Chromene derivatives and their analoga as wnt pathway antagonists

ABSTRACT

Compounds according to the general formula (I) wherein X 1 , X 2 , X 3  and X 4  independently from each other are N or CR 8  wherein R 8  may be same or different, and wherein up to 3 of the group X 1 , X 2 , X 3  and X 4  may be N; A is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic or heteroaromtic cycle containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S wherein A may be substituted by 1 to 5 substituents R which may be same or different; their solvates, hydrates, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts for the treatment of a disorder or disease associated with an aberrant activation of Wnt signalling in a mammal selected from a cell proliferative disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, increased bone density, aging or age-related disorders and/or diseases or Dupuytren disease (superficial fibromatosis).

The present invention relates to compounds having the general formula (I) with the definitions of X¹-X⁴, A, R⁶ and R⁷ given below and/or solvates, hydrates and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of said compounds for modulating of the Wnt signalling pathway activity and their use as a medicament, preferably for the treatment of cancer.

The Wnt signalling pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. Aberrant activation of the Wnt signalling pathway is known to promote uncontrolled cell growth and survival and can therefore be a major driving force in a broad spectrum of human cancers and diseases. For example, the inhibition of aberrant Wnt signalling pathway activity in cancer cell lines effectively blocks their growth (N. Barker and H. Clevers “Mining the Wnt pathway for cancer therapeutics”, Nature Reviews, vol. 5, 2007, pages 997-1014; R. Nusse, “Mint signalling in disease and in development”, Cell Research, Vol. 15, 2005, pages 23-32). Recently it has been shown that the maintenance of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)-mutant colorectal cancer that display high Wnt signalling activity is dependent on continuous activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signalling (Scholer-Dahirel, A., Schlabach, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2011) www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1104182108). Other disorders and diseases are considered to be influenced by an aberrant Wnt signalling pathway, too (see e.g. literature cited above).

The Wnt signalling pathway involves a large number of proteins regulating the production of Wnt signalling molecules, their interaction with receptors on target cells and the physiological response of target cells resulting from the exposure of cells to the extra-cellular Wnt ligands.

Secreted signalling proteins of the Wnt family bind to specific Frizzled (Fz) receptor complexes on the surface of target cells and activate distinct intracellular pathways that are broadly classified as canonical or non-canonical Wnt signalling pathways.

In brief, the canonical pathway regulates the stability of the protein beta-catenin in a cell and its ability to enter the nucleus of the cell, where it interacts with members of the Tcf/Lef protein family. Beta-catenin and Tcf form active transcription factor complexes in the nucleus and activate the Wnt target genes. The presence of the beta-catenin in the nucleus is a hallmark in the Wnt signalling pathway indicating its activation. An overview of the Wnt signalling pathway can be found in N. Barker and H. Clevers “Mining the Wnt pathway for cancer therapeutics”, Nature Reviews, vol. 5, 2007, pages 997-1014.

The presence of Tcf-beta-catenin complexes in the nuclei of cells leads to activation of the genetic program considered to promote cancer formation by stimulating cell growth, blocking apoptosis and altering cell movement and stem cell properties. For instance, the artificial disruption of Tcf-beta-catenin complex formation in colon cancer cells effectively blocks target gene activation and inhibits the growth in vitro. Drugs designed to inhibit the Wnt signalling pathway and consequently the formation of the Tcf-beta-catenin complex in the nucleus of a cell are therefore expected to hold great potential for the treatment of a range of cancers and other diseases associated with the Wnt signalling pathway.

Therefore, there is a strong need for novel compounds which modulate the Wnt signalling pathway thereby opening new routes for the treatment of disorders and/or diseases associated with an aberrant activation of Wnt signalling.

An object of the present invention is to provide such compounds. This object is achieved by a compound having the general formula (I)

wherein

-   X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ independently from each other are N or CR⁸ wherein     R⁸ may be same or different, and wherein up to 3 of the group X¹,     X², X³ and X⁴ may be N; -   A is selected from the group consisting of 5- to 6-membered aromatic     or heteroaromtic cycles containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from     the group consisting of N, O and S wherein A is optionally     substituted by 1 to 5 substituents R which may be same or different; -   R is selected from OH; halogen; CN; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl;     C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇     heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; C(O)R^(1a);     C(O)OR^(1a); C(O)N(R^(1a)R^(1b)); C(O)NR^(1a)(R^(1b)R^(1c));     C(NR^(1a)R^(1b))NOR^(1c); C(NR^(1a)R^(1b))NOC(O)R^(1c);     S(O)₂N(R^(1a))C(O)N(R^(1b)R^(1c)); N(R^(1a))S(O)₂OR^(1b);     C(R^(1a))N(R^(1b)); C(R^(1a))NOR^(1b); C(R^(1a))NN(R^(1b)R^(1c));     C(O)N(R^(1a))OR^(1b); C(NR^(1a))N(R^(1b)R^(1c));     C(NR^(1a))N(R^(1b))OR^(1c); C(NR^(1a))N(R^(1b))N(R^(1c)R^(1d));     N(R^(1a)R^(1b)); N(R^(1a))S(O)₂N(R^(1b)R^(1c)); N(R^(1a))C(O)R^(1b);     N(R^(1a))S(O)₂R^(1b); N(R^(1a))S(O)R^(1b);     N(R^(1a))C(O)N(R^(1b)R^(1c)); N(R^(1a))C(O)OR^(1b); SR^(1a);     S(O)₂OR^(1a); S(O)₂N(R^(1a)R^(1b)); S(O)N(R^(1a)R^(1b));     S(O)₂R^(1a); S(O)R^(1a); OR^(1a); OC(O)R^(1a); and     OC(O)N(R^(1a)R^(1b)); and wherein alkyl; alkenyl, alkinyl,     cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and     heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups R¹⁰     which are same or different; and     -   optionally two adjacent substituents R form together a 5- to         7-membered aromatic, heteroaromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic         ring optionally substituted by one or more groups R¹⁰ which may         be same or different; -   R^(1a); R^(1b); R^(1c); and R^(1d) are independently from each other     selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl;     C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅     aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl;     heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and     heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted with one or more R¹⁰     which are same or different; -   R¹⁰ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(10a);     C(O)R^(10a); C(O)OR^(10a); C(O)N(R^(10a)R^(10b)); N(R^(10a)R^(10b));     OC(O)R^(10a); N(R^(10a))C(O)R^(10b); S(O)₂N(R^(10a)R^(10b));     S(O)N(R^(10a)R^(10b)); S(O)₂N(R^(10a))C(O)N(R^(10b)R^(10c));     S(O)₂R^(10a); S(O)R^(10a); S(O)₂OR^(10a);     N(R^(10a))S(O)₂N(R^(10b)R^(10c)); SR^(10a); N(R^(10a))S(O)₂R^(10b);     N(R^(10a))S(O)R^(10b); N(R^(10a))C(O)N(R^(10b)R^(10c));     N(R^(10a))C(O)OR^(10b); and OC(O)N(R^(10a)R^(10b)); wherein C₁-C₆     alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are     same or different; -   R^(10a); R^(10b) and R^(10c) are independently from each other     selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally     substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; -   R⁶ is selected from H; OH; CN; halogen; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇     cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇     aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl;     C(O)R^(6a); C(O)OR^(6a); C(O)N(R^(6a)R^(6b)); C(O)N(R^(6a))OR^(6b);     C(O)N(R^(6a))N(R^(6b)R^(6c)); C(NR^(6a))N(R^(6b)R^(6c));     C(NR^(6a))N(R^(6b))OR^(6c); C(NR^(6a))N(R^(6b))N(R^(6c)R^(6d));     C(R^(6a))N(R^(6b)); C(NR^(6a)R^(6b))NOR^(6c);     C(NR^(6a)R^(6b))NOC(O)R^(6c); C(R^(6a))NN(R^(6b)R^(6c));     CR^(6a)NOR^(6b); OR^(6a); OC(O)R^(6a); OC(O)N(R^(6a)R^(6b));     SR^(6a); S(O)R^(6a); S(O)₂R^(6a); S(O)₂OR^(6a);     S(O)₂N(R^(6a)R^(6b)); S(O)N(R^(6a)R^(6b));     S(O)₂N(R^(6a))C(O)N(R^(6b)R^(6c)); N(R^(6a))S(O)₂N(R^(6b)R^(6c));     N(R^(6a))S(O)₂R^(6b); N(R^(6a))S(O)R^(6b); N(R^(6a))S(O)₂OR^(6b);     N(R^(6a)R^(6b)); N(R^(6a))C(O)R^(6b); N(R^(6a))C(O)N(R^(6b)R^(6c));     and N(R^(6a))C(O)OR^(6b); wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl;     alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are     optionally substituted by one or more R¹¹, which are same or     different; -   R^(6a); R^(6b); R^(6c); and R^(6d) are independently from each other     selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl;     C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅     aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl which are optionally substituted     with one or more R¹¹, which are the same or different;     R¹¹ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(11a);     C(O)R^(11a); C(O)OR^(11a); C(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); N(R^(11a)R^(11b));     OC(O)R^(11a); N(R^(11a))C(O)R^(11b); SR^(11a); S(O)R^(11a);     S(O)₂R^(11a); S(O)₂OR^(11a); S(O)₂N(R^(11a)R^(11b));     S(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); S(O)₂N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(11b)R^(11c));     N(R^(11a))S(O)₂N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); N(R^(11a))S(O)₂R^(11b);     N(R^(11a))S(O)R¹¹b; N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(11b)R^(11c));     N(R^(11a))C(O)OR^(11b); and OC(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); wherein C₁-C₆     alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more R¹⁸ which are same     or different; -   R¹⁸ is selected from halogen, CN, OH; OR^(11a); C(O)R^(11a);     C(O)OR^(11a); C(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); N(R^(11a)R^(11b));     OC(O)R^(11a); N(R^(11a))C(O)R^(11b); SR^(11a); S(O)R^(11a);     S(O)₂R^(11a); S(O)₂OR^(11a); S(O)₂N(R^(11a)R^(11b));     S(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); S(O)₂N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(1b)R^(11c));     N(R^(11a))S(O)₂N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); N(R^(11a))S(O)₂R^(11b);     N(R^(11a))S(O)R^(11b); N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(11b)R^(11c));     N(R^(11a))C(O)OR^(11b); and OC(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); -   R^(11a); R^(11b) and R^(11c) are independently from each other     selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally     substituted with one or more halogen which are the same or     different; -   R⁷ is selected from H; OH; CN; halogen; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇     cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇     aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl;     C(O)R^(7a); C(O)OR^(7a); C(O)N(R^(7a))OR^(7b);     C(NR^(7a))N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); C(NR^(7a))N(R^(7b))OR^(7c);     C(O)N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); C(O)N(R^(7a))N(R^(7b)R^(7c));     C(NR^(7a))N(R^(7b))N(R^(7c)R^(7d)); C(R^(7a))N(R^(7b));     C(R^(7a))NN(R^(7b)R^(7c)); C(R^(7a))NOR^(7b); OR^(7a); OC(O)R^(7a);     OC(O)N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); N(R^(7a))C(O)R^(7b);     N(R^(7a))C(O)N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); N(R^(7a))C(O)OR^(7b);     N(R^(7a))S(O)₂OR^(7b); N(R^(7a))S(O)R^(7b); N(R^(7a))S(O)₂R^(7b);     N(R^(7a))S(O)₂N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); SR^(7a); S(O)R^(7a); S(O)₂R^(7a);     S(O)₂OR^(7a); S(O)N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); S(O)₂N(R^(7a)R^(7b));     S(O)₂N(R^(7a))C(O)N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); C(NR^(7a)R^(7b))NOR^(7c); and     C(NR^(7a)R^(7b))NOC(O)R^(7c); wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; alkenyl;     alkinyl; aryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are optionally     substituted by one or more R¹², which are same or different; -   R^(7a); R^(7b); R^(7c), and R^(7d) are independently from each other     selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl;     C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅     aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl;     heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl;     heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted with one or more R¹²,     which are same or different; -   R¹² is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(12a);     C(O)R^(12a); C(O)OR^(12a); C(O)N(R^(12a)R^(12b)); N(R^(12a)R^(12b));     OC(O)R^(12a); N(R^(12a))C(O)R^(12b); S(O)₂N(R^(12a)R^(12b));     S(O)N(R^(12a)R^(12b)); S(O)₂R^(12a); S(O)R^(12a); S(O)₂OR^(12a);     N(R^(12a))S(O)₂N(R^(12b)R^(12c)); SR^(12a); N(R^(12a))S(O)₂R^(12b);     N(R^(12a))S(O)R^(12b); N(R^(12a))C(O)N(R^(12b)R^(12c));     N(R^(12a))C(O)OR^(12b); OC(O)N(R^(12a)R^(12b)); and     S(O)₂N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is     optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or     different; -   R^(12a); R^(12b) and R^(12c) are independently from each other     selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally     substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; -   R⁸ is selected from H; OH; CN, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇     cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇     aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl;     C(O)R^(8a); C(O)OR^(8a); C(O)N(R^(8a)R^(8b)); C(O)N(R^(8a))OR^(8b);     C(O)N(R^(8a))N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); C(NR^(8a))N(R^(8b)R^(8c));     C(NR^(8a))N(R^(8b))OR^(8c); C(NR^(8a))N(R^(8b))N(R⁸CR^(8d));     C(R^(8a))N(R^(8b)); C(R^(8a))NN(R^(8b)R^(8c)); C(R^(8a))NOR^(8b);     OR^(8a); OC(O)R^(8a); OC(O)N(R^(8a)R^(8b)); SR^(8a); S(O)R^(8a);     S(O)₂R^(8a); S(O)₂OR^(8a); S(O)₂N(R^(8a)R^(8b));     S(O)N(R^(8a)R^(8b)); S(O)₂N(R^(8a))C(O)N(R^(8b)R^(8c));     N(R^(8a))S(O)₂N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); N(R^(8a))S(O)₂R^(8b);     N(R^(8a))S(O)R^(8b); N(R^(8a))S(O)₂OR^(8b); N(R^(8a)R^(8b));     N(R^(8a))C(O)R^(8b); N(R^(8a))C(O)N(R^(8b)R^(8c));     N(R^(8a))C(O)OR^(8b); C(NR^(8a)R^(8b))NOR^(8c);     C(NR^(8a)R^(8b))NOC(O)R^(8c); C(O)NR^(8a)N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); and     N(R^(8a))C(S)N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl;     heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and     heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more R¹⁶, which     are same or different; and     -   optionally two adjacent R⁸ form together a substituted or         unsubstituted 5- or 6 membered saturated or unsaturated         hydrocarbon ring containing up to 3 N-atoms in the ring or a         substituted or unsubstituted 5- to 7-membered cyclic monoether         or diether; -   R^(8a); R^(8b); R^(8c); and R^(8d) are independently from each other     selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl;     C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅     aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl which are optionally substituted     with one or more R¹⁶, which are same or different; -   R¹⁶ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(16a);     C(O)R^(16a); C(O)OR^(16a); C(O)N(R^(16a)R^(16b)); N(R^(16a)R^(16b));     OC(O)R^(16a); N(R^(16a))C(O)R^(16b); S(O)₂N(R^(16a)R^(16b));     S(O)N(R^(16a)R^(16b)); S(O)₂R^(16a); S(O)R^(16a); S(O)₂OR^(16a);     N(R^(16a))S(O)₂N(R^(16b)R^(16c)); SR^(16a); N(R^(16a))S(O)₂R^(16b);     N(R^(16a))S(O)R^(16b); N(R^(16a))C(O)N(R^(16b)R^(16c));     N(R^(16a))C(O)OR^(16b); OC(O)N(R^(16a)R¹⁶); and     S(O)₂N(R^(16a))C(O)N(R^(16b)R^(16c)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is     optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or     different; -   R^(16a); R^(16b) and R^(16c) are independently from each other     selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally     substituted with one or more halogen which are the same or     different;     and/or solvates; hydrates; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts     thereof.

“Alkyl” means a linear or branched saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group, e.g. methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, n-pentyl, i-pentyl, n-hexyl, i-hexyl and 3-methyl-pentyl and the like.

“Alkenyl” means a linear or branched unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group with at least one double bond, e.g. ethenyl, propenyl (allyl), 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2-hexenyl and 3-hexenyl and the like.

“Alkinyl” means a linear or branched unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group with at least one triple bond, e.g. ethinyl, propinyl, 1-butinyl, 2-butinyl and the like.

“Cycloalkyl” means a saturated 3 to 8-membered hydrocarbon ring e.g. cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl.

“Alicyclic” means a saturated or unsaturated but non-aromtic 3- to 8-membered hydrocarbon ring like cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclopentene, cyclopentadiene, cyclohexane, cyclohexene and cycloheptane.

“Heterocyclyl” and “heterocyclic” mean a saturated or unsaturated 3- to 8-membered hydrocarbon ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms and/or heteratom containing groups selected from the group N, O, S and C(O) in the ring. The one or more heteroatoms and hetero atoms containing groups present in the ring replace a —CH₂— group or a —CH═ in the ring. Preferred C₃-C₈ heterocyclyl groups containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms and heteroatom containing groups selected from the group N, O, S and C(O) are derived from the following heterocyclic compounds: tetrahydrofurane, pyrrolidine, tetrahydrothiophene, oxazolidine, piperidine, tetrahydropyrane, piperazine, dioxane, morpholine, cyclopentanone and trioxane.

“Aryl” and “aromatic” mean an aromatic 3- to 7-numbered hydrocarbon ring e.g. phenyl and the like.

“Heteroaryl” and “heteroaromatic” mean an aromatic 3- to 7-numbered hydrocarbon ring containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from the group N, O, and S in the ring. The one or more heteroatoms present in the ring replace a —CH═ group in the ring. Preferred C₃-C₇ heteroaryl groups containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from the group N, O and S are derived from the following heteroaromatic compounds: Pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, tetrazole, furane, thiophene, oxazole, isoxazole, oxadiazole, thiazole, isothiazole, thiadiazole, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine and triazine.

“Aralkyl” means a C₃-C₇ aryl group substituted with at least one C₁-C₈ alkyl group, wherein aryl and alkyl are defined as above. Examples for aralkyl are tolyl, benzyl and xylyl. The aralkyl group may be bound via the C₁-C₈ alkyl group or via the C₃-C₇ aryl group.

“Heteroarylalkyl” means a C₃-C₇ heteroaryl group substituted with at least one C₁-C₈ alkyl group, wherein heteroaryl and alkyl are defined as above. The heteroarylalkyl group may be bound via the C₁-C₈ alkyl group or via the C₃-C₇ heteroaryl group.

“Halogen” comprises F, Cl, Br and I.

Substituent A is preferably selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic or polycyclic moieties derived from benzene, pyridine, imidazole, furane, benzofurane, indole, pyrazole, triazole, tetrazole, oxadiazole, thiadiazole, thiazole, indazole, benzooxazole, pyrimidine, pyrrolopyridine and oxazole.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention A is phenyl which is optionally substituted by 1 to 5 substituents R which may be same or different. Compounds of this embodiment have formula

wherein R¹; R²; R³; R⁴ and R⁵ independently from each other are selected from the group consisting of H and the substituents as defined for R above. Within this embodiment it is even more preferred if at least 3 of the group of R¹; R²; R³; R⁴ and R⁵ are not H, particularly preferred R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H and most preferred R¹ and R⁵ are H and R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H.

A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to compounds of formula (I), wherein two adjacent R⁸ form together an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring containing up to 3 N-atoms in the ring. Especially preferred, the two adjacent R⁸ form together an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring containing up to 3 N-atoms in the ring. Within this embodiment it is particularly preferred, if the two adjacent R⁸ form an optionally substituted 6-membered aromatic ring containing up to 3 N-atoms. According to this embodiment the two adjacent R⁸ may be selected from R⁸ bound to X³ and X⁴ (formula (Ia)); R⁸ bound to X² and X³ (formula (Ib)) or R⁸ bound to X¹ and X² (formula (Ic)):

-   wherein Y¹, Y², Y³ and Y⁴ independently from each other are N or CR⁹     wherein R⁹ may be same or different, and wherein up to 3 of the     group Y¹, Y², Y³ and Y⁴ may be N; -   R⁹ is selected from H; OH; halogen; CN; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇     cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇     aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl;     OR^(9a); C(O)R^(9a); C(O)OR^(9a); C(O)N(R^(9a)R^(9b));     C(O)N(R^(9a))OR^(9b); C(O)N(R^(9a))N(R^(9b)R^(9c));     C(R^(9a))NN(R^(9b)R^(9c)); C(R^(9a))NOR^(9b); S(O)₂N(R^(9a)R^(9b));     S(O)N(R^(9a)R^(9b)); S(O)₂R^(9a); S(O)R^(9a); S(O)₂OR^(9a);     S(O)₂N(R^(9a))C(O)N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); N(R^(9a))S(O)₂N(R^(9b)R^(9c));     SR^(9a); OC(O)R^(9a); N(R^(9a))C(O)R^(9b); N(R^(9a))S(O)₂R^(9b);     N(R^(9a))S(O)R^(9b); N(R^(9a))C(O)N(R^(9b)R^(9c));     N(R^(9a))C(S)N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); N(R^(9a))C(O)OR^(9b);     OC(O)N(R^(9a)R^(9b)); C(NR^(9a))N(R^(9b))OR^(9c);     C(NR^(9a))N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); C(NR^(9a))N(R^(9b))N(R^(9c)R^(9d));     N(R^(9a))S(O)₂OR^(9b); N(R^(9a)R^(9b)); C(R^(9a))NR^(9b);     C(NR^(9a)R^(9b))NOR^(9c); C(NR^(9a)R^(9b))NOC(O)R^(9c); and     C(O)NR^(9a)N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl;     alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are     optionally substituted by one or more R¹³, which are same or     different; -   R^(9a); R^(9b); and R^(9c) are independently from each other     selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl;     C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅     aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl which are optionally substituted     with one or more R¹³, which are same or different; -   R¹³ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(13a);     C(O)R^(13a); C(O)OR^(13a); C(O)N(R^(13a)R^(13b)); N(R^(13a)R^(13b));     OC(O)R^(13a); N(R^(13a))C(O)R^(13b); S(O)₂N(R^(13a)R^(13b));     S(O)N(R^(13a)R^(13b)); S(O)₂R^(13a); S(O)₂OR^(13a); S(O)R^(13a);     N(R^(13a))S(O)₂N(R^(13b)R^(13c)); SR^(13a); N(R^(13a))S(O)₂R^(13b);     N(R^(13a))S(O)R^(13b); N(R^(13a))C(O)N(R^(13b)R^(13c));     N(R^(13a))C(O)OR^(13b); and OC(O)N(R^(13a)R^(13b)); wherein C₁-C₆     alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are     same or different; -   R^(13a); R^(13b) and R^(13c) are independently from each other     selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally     substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different;     and/or solvates; hydrates; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts     thereof.

Special preference is given to compounds of formula (I) wherein the two adjacent R⁸ bound to X¹ and X² form the 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring or cyclic ether.

In a further preferred embodiment of compounds of formulae (Ia) to (Ic) of the present invention A is phenyl which is optionally substituted by 1 to 5 substituents R which are same or different. Compounds of this embodiment have formula

wherein the substituents are defined as above.

Special preference is given to compounds of formula (IIc) wherein the two adjacent R⁸ bound to X¹ and X² form the aromatic ring.

Compounds of formulae (IIa) to (IIc) are preferred wherein at least 3 of the group of R¹; R²; R³; R⁴ and R⁵ are not H. More preferred R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H and most preferred R¹ and R⁵ are H and R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H. Especially preferred are compounds of formula (II) wherein the two ring forming substituents R⁸ are bound to X¹ and X² and at least 3 of the group of R¹; R²; R³; R⁴ and R⁵ are not H. Within this embodiment it is more preferred if R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H and most preferred R¹ and R⁵ are H and R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H.

In a further preferred embodiment the two adjacent R⁸ form together a cyclic 5-membered substituted or unsubstituted diether resulting in compounds of formulae

wherein

-   R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are independently from each other selected from H;     halogen; CN; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl;     C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅     aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; C(O)R^(14a); C(O)OR^(14a);     C(O)N(R^(14a)R^(14b)); C(R^(14a))NR^(14b); and     C(R^(14a))NN(R^(14b)R^(14c)); wherein alkyl; alkenyl, alkinyl,     cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and     heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups R¹⁷     which are same or different; -   R^(14a); R^(14b); and R^(14c) are independently from each other     selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl;     C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅     aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl;     heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and     heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted with one or more R¹⁷     which are the same or different; -   R¹⁷ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(17a);     C(O)R^(17a); C(O)OR^(17a); C(O)N(R^(17a)R^(17b)); N(R^(17a)R^(17b));     OC(O)R^(17a); N(R^(17a))C(O)R^(17b); S(O)₂N(R^(17a)R^(17b));     S(O)N(R^(17a)R^(17b)); S(O)₂R^(17a); S(O)R^(17a);     N(R^(17a))S(O)₂N(R^(17b)R^(17c)); SR^(17a); N(R^(17a))S(O)₂R^(17b);     S(O)₂OR^(17a); N(R^(17a))S(O)R^(17b);     N(R^(17a))C(O)N(R^(17b)R^(17c)); N(R^(17a))C(O)OR^(17b); and     OC(O)N(R^(17a)R^(17b)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally     substituted with one or more halogen which are the same or     different; -   R^(17a); R^(17b) and R^(17c) are independently from each other     selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁₋₆ alkyl is optionally     substituted with one or more halogen which are the same or     different;     the definitions of the further substituents are given above;     and/or solvates; hydrates; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts     thereof.

Special preference is given to compounds of formula (If) wherein the two adjacent R⁸ bound to X¹ and X² form the cyclic ether.

In a further preferred embodiment of formulae (Id) to (If) of the present invention A is phenyl which is optionally substituted by 1 to 5 substituents R resulting in compounds of formulae

wherein the substituents are defined as above.

Within this embodiment it is even more preferred if at least 3 of the group of R¹; R²; R³; R⁴ and R⁵ are not H, particularly preferred R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H and most preferred R¹ and R⁵ are H and R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention concerns the compounds of formula (II) and (IIa) to (IIf), wherein at least 3 of the group of R¹; R²; R³; R⁴ and R⁵ are not H, particularly preferred R²; R³ and R⁴ are not H, and the further substituents are defined as above, and/or solvates; hydrates; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Special preference is given to compounds of formula HID wherein the two adjacent R⁸ bound to X¹ and X² form the cyclic ether.

According to the invention the solvates; hydrates; and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of all compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) described above are included herein.

Some of the compounds of the invention and/or salts or esters thereof will exist in different stereo isomeric forms. All of these forms are subjects of the invention.

Described below are exemplary salts of the compounds according to the invention which are included herein. The list of the different salts stated below is not meant to be complete and limiting.

Compounds according to the invention which contain one or more acidic groups can be used according to the invention, e.g. as their alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts or ammonium salts. More precise examples of such salts include sodium salts, potassium salts, calcium salts, magnesium salts or salts with ammonia or organic amines such as, e.g. ethylamine, ethanolamine, triethanolamine or amino acids.

Compounds according to the invention which contain one or more basic groups, i.e. groups which can be protonated, can be used according to the invention in the form of their addition salts with inorganic or organic acids.

Examples for suitable acids include hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, napthalenedisulfonic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, pivalic acid, diethylacetic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, pimelic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, sulfamic acid, phenylpropionic acid, gluconic acid, ascorbic acid, isonicotinic acid, citric acid, adipic acid and other acids known to a person skilled in the art.

Compounds according to the invention which contain several basic groups can simultaneously form different salts.

If a compound according to the invention simultaneously contains acidic and basic groups in the molecule, the invention also includes, in addition to the salt forms mentioned, inner salts or betaines.

The respective salts of the compounds according to the invention can be obtained by customary methods which are known to the person skilled in the art, for example by contacting these with an organic or inorganic acid or base in a solvent or dispersant, or by anion exchange or cation exchange with other salts.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by a regulatory agency such as the EMA (Europe) and/or the FDA (US) and/or any other national regulatory agency for use in animals, preferably in humans.

Furthermore, the invention includes all salts of the compounds according to the invention which, owing to low physiological compatibility, are not directly suitable for use in pharmaceuticals but which can be used, for example, as intermediates for chemical reactions or for the preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable salts or which might be suitable for studying Wnt signalling pathway modulating activity of a compound according of the invention in any suitable manner, such as any suitable in vitro assay.

The present invention furthermore includes all solvates of the compounds according to the invention.

The present invention furthermore includes derivatives/prodrugs (including the salts thereof) of the compounds according to the invention which contain physiologically tolerable and cleavable groups and which are metabolized in animals, preferably mammals, most preferably humans into a compound according to the invention.

The present invention furthermore includes the metabolites of the compounds according to the invention.

The term “metabolites” refers to all molecules derived from any of the compounds according to the invention in a cell or organism, preferably mammal.

Preferably the term “metabolites” relates to molecules which differ from any molecule which is present in any such cell or organism under physiological conditions.

The structure of the metabolites of the compounds according to the invention will be obvious to any person skilled in the art, using the various appropriate methods.

The compounds of the invention may be prepared by the three component reaction of a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heteroaromatic monocyclic or polycyclic aldehyde (e.g. benzaldehyde, pyridinecarbaldehydes, imidazolecarbaldehyde, furancarbaldehydes, benzofurancarbaldehydes, indolecarbaldehydes, pyrazolecarbaaldehydes, oxazolecarbaldehydes and their derivatives), an OH-substituted aromate or heteroaromate, which may be further substituted (e.g. 1-naphtol, hydroxypyrimidine, hydroxypyridine, hydroxyquinaldine, hydroxyquinoline, hydroxyisoquinoline, sesamol and their derivatives) and malonodinitrile or ethylcyanoacetate and the like in a solvent like toluene, alcohols or dimethylformamide. The compounds obtained may be modified by further reaction steps.

Further methods for the preparation of the inventive compounds are known to the person skilled in the art.

Depending on the circumstances of the individual case, in order to avoid side reactions during the synthesis of a compound of the general formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf), it can be necessary or advantageous to temporarily block functional groups by introducing protective groups and to deprotect them in a later stage of the synthesis, or to introduce functional groups in the form of precursor groups and at a later stage to convert them into the desired functional groups. Suitable synthetic strategies, protective groups and precursor groups are known to the person skilled in the art.

If desired, the compounds of the formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) can be purified by customary purification procedures, for example by recrystallization or chromatography. The starting materials for the preparation of the compounds of the formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) are commercially available or can be prepared according to or analogously to literature procedures.

The compounds of the invention may serve as a basis for the preparation of the other compounds according to the invention by several methods well known by the person skilled in the art.

The present invention relates to the discovery that signal transduction pathways regulated by Wnt can be inhibited, at least in part, by compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II), (IIa) to (IIf). As set out in more detail below, these compounds can inhibit proliferation of tumor cells having Wnt modulated activity. Therefore, the compounds according to the invention are suited for modulating the Wnt signalling pathway.

As used herein, the term “modulating the Wnt signalling pathway” refers to an effect on the series of events that occur when Wnt proteins bind to cell-surface receptors of the frizzled family resulting in an accumulation of beta-catenin in the cell cytoplasm that reaches the nucleus of a cell, and consequently, the Wnt target genes are expressed. The Wnt signalling pathway may be modulated by direct or indirect modulation.

“Direct modulation” according to the present invention means an interaction of the inventive compounds with proteins directly involved in the Wnt signalling pathway leading to an increase or decrease of the expression of the Wnt target genes.

“Indirect modulation” according to the present invention means an increase or decrease of the expression of the Wnt target genes without a direct interaction of the inventive compound with the components involved in the Wnt signalling pathway. Examples for the indirect modulation of the Wnt signalling pathway are tankyrase-inhibitors and calcium regulators like siperone, thapsigargine and iononycine.

Inhibition of tankyrases stabilizes one protein of the Wnt signalling pathway (axin), which inhibits the Wnt signalling pathway Inhibition of the decomposition of axin leads to an increase of axin and in turn to the inhibition of the Wnt signalling pathway (Huang et al., Nature 461, pp. 614 to 620 (2009))

By increasing the intracellular calcium level the Wnt protein beta-catenin is transferred out of the nucleus and decomposes. This inhibits a beta-catenin-mediated Wnt signalling pathway activity without inhibiting a Wnt protein directly, too ((Lu et al., BMC Pharm, 2009 9:13 (doi:10.1186/1471-2210-9-13) and Li et al., PNAS 99, pp. 13254 to 13259 (2002)).

While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the activation of a receptor may be the mechanism by which these compounds act as described in US 2007/0219257 A1. For example, the compounds could affect the activity of a Wnt/Frizzled receptor complex. Alternatively, the compounds could affect the activity of the serine/threonine kinase GSK3β, which is involved in the down regulation of β-catenin. The compounds could also affect the activity of the APC gene. In the absence of Wnt signal, the APC protein functions to foster degradation of β-catenin and prevent its nuclear entry. Wnt stimulation, loss of APC protein function, or of its associated partner Axin, all lead to stabilization of and concentration of β-catenin in the nucleus, which then can act as a transcriptional co-activator by associating with the Tcf/LEF family of transcription factors. APC in complex with Axin and other proteins target β-catenin for proteasomal degradation by scaffolding the association between β-catenin and kinases whose action lead to β-catenin ubiquitinylation; this action is abrogated by recruitment of the degradation complex to the membrane upon Wnt activation of a receptor complex that includes Frizzled (Fz) and LRP5/6. The pathway can also be activated by mutations of β-catenin that render it resistant to degradation.

Or, for example, the compounds could alter the activity of Dishevelled, which is a positive mediator of Wnt signaling. For example, the ability of these compounds to inhibit proliferation of cells may be due to the ability of such molecules to interact with Wnt, or at least to interfere with the ability of those proteins to activate a Wnt-mediated signal transduction pathway. Signal transduction antagonists of different structures, even ones that bind to the same protein in the signaling pathways, may act in slightly different ways. Accordingly, even if a particular condition caused or contributed to by aberrant or unwanted activation of the Wnt pathway shows little response to treatment by one of the antagonists disclosed herein, another of the antagonists disclosed herein may nonetheless be efficacious.

One embodiment of the present invention includes the use of compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) that agonize inhibition of Wnt signaling, such as by inhibiting activation of Wnt downstream components of the signaling pathway, in the regulation of repair and/or functional performance of a wide range of cells, tissues and organs, including normal cells, tissues, and organs. For instance, the compounds of formulae (I), (IIa) to (IIf), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) have therapeutic and cosmetic applications ranging from regulation of neural tissues, bone and cartilage formation and repair, regulation of spermatogenesis, regulation of smooth muscle, regulation of lung, liver and other organs arising from the primitive gut, regulation of hematopoietic function, regulation of skin and hair growth, etc. Moreover, the compounds of formula (I) can be applied to cells that are provided in culture (in vitro), or on cells in a whole animal (in vivo).

Another embodiment of present invention includes the use of compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) which antagonize activity of the Wnt pathway resulting in the regulation of repair and/or functional performance of a wide range of cells, tissues, and organs. For instance, the inventive compounds have therapeutic and cosmetic applications ranging from regulation of neural tissues, bone and cartilage formation and repair, regulation of spermatogenesis, regulation of smooth muscle, regulation of lung, liver and other organs arising from the primitive gut, regulation of hematopoietic function, regulation of skin and hair growth, etc. The compounds of the invention can be applied on cells which are provided in culture (in vitro), or on cells in a whole animal (in vivo).

The term “agonist” refers to an agent or analog that binds productively to a receptor or other mediators of the signaling pathway and mimics the biological activity. The term “antagonist” refers to an agent that binds to receptors or other mediators of the signaling pathway and inhibits the biological activity. Thus, an antagonist potentiates or recapitulates, for example, the bioactivity of Axin, such as to repress transcription of target genes. The term “Wnt antagonist” as used herein refers not only to any agent that may act by directly inhibiting the normal function of the Wnt proteins, but also to any agent that inhibits the Wnt signaling pathway, and thus antgonizes the function of Wnt. The term “Wnt agonist” likewise refers to an agent which activates or stabilizes the bioactivity of Wnt, such as to increase transcription of target genes.

It is preferred according to the invention to decrease the activity of the Wnt signalling pathway and/or to inhibit the Wnt signalling pathway. Preferably the compounds of the invention are used as Wnt antagonists and used to regulate e.g. proliferation or other biological consequences of mis-expression of Wnt.

As outlined above, an elevated beta-catenin level in the nucleus of a cell is a hallmark of an aberrant activation of the Wnt signalling pathway and plays a major role in the development of several kinds of cancer. The measurement of the beta-catenin level in the nucleus of the cell may be carried out according procedures known to the person skilled in the art. The measurement of the Tcf-beta-catenin complex level by means of 6×Tcf-luciferase is described below in the experiments. The use of a compound for modulating the Wnt signalling pathway resulting in a decrease of the relative amount of Tcf-beta-catenin complex in the nucleus of a cell is preferred.

Modulating the Wnt signalling pathway can be carried out by contacting a cell with a compound according to the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, said modulation is performed in vitro or in cell culture. As known to the person skilled in the art, several in vitro and cell culture assays are available.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the modulation can be performed in animals such as mammals. Animal subjects to which the invention is applicable extend to both domestic animals and livestock, raised either as pets or for commercial purposes. Exemplary mammals are mice, rats, guinea pigs, monkeys, dogs and cats. The modulation can also be carried out in humans.

The invention also relates to the compounds (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) of the invention for use as a medicament. The compounds are as defined above; furthermore the embodiments as described below with respect to the use as medicament, e.g. formulation, application and combination, also apply to this aspect of the invention. The pharmaceutical preparation or medicaments comprising the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) can be effective for both human and animal subjects. Animal subjects to which the invention is applicable extend to both domestic animals and livestock, raised either as pets or for commercial purposes. Examples are dogs, cats, cattle, horses, sheep, hogs, and goats.

The invention further relates to the use of the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) for modulating the Wnt signalling pathway.

The compounds according to the invention are suited for the use for the preparation of a medicament for modulating the Wnt signalling pathway. The present invention provides pharmaceutical preparations or medicaments comprising a compound such as described herein, formulated in an amount sufficient to regulate, in vivo, Wnt pathway, e.g., proliferation or other biological consequences of mis-expression of Wnt.

The invention further relates to the compounds according to the invention for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a disorder or disease associated with an aberrant activation of Wnt signalling in a mammal and to compounds of the invention for the treatment of a disorder or disease associated with an aberrant activation of Wnt signalling in a mammal. The disorders or diseases associated with the Wnt signalling pathway are for example cell-proliferative disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, diseases connected with aberrant bone density and Dupuytren disease (superficial fibromatosis).

Methods for determining whether a certain cell line, e.g. a cancer cell line shows an aberrant activity of the Wnt signalling pathway are known to the person skilled in the art. Many investigations on the role of the Wnt signalling pathway in different human cancers are summerized in N. Barker and H. Clevers “Mining the Wnt pathway for cancer therapeutics”, Nature Reviews, vol. 5, 2007, pages 997-1014. An aberrant activity of the Wnt signalling pathway in a certain cell, e.g. a cancer cell may be detected by an elevated level of beta-catenin in the nucleus of said cell, by the expression of Wnt target genes or by means of other components of the Wnt signalling pathway. As described above the level of beta-catenin in the nucleus of a cell is a hall mark of the Wnt signalling pathway and measuring said level is known to the person skilled in the art.

The inventive compounds specifically influence the Wnt signalling pathway as demonstrated in the examples by the effect of the inventive compounds on cancer cells which are not associated with an aberrant activity of the Wnt signalling pathway (Hek293T and HepG2) showing no cytotoxic activity and on cancer cells associated with an aberrant activity of the Wnt signalling pathway (human colon carcinoma cells D1d1, HCT116 and SW480) showing low IC₅₀ values. This specific activity of the inventive compounds on the Wnt signaling pathway has the great advantage that the mammals suffering from a particular disease, e.g. a certain kind of cancer, may be selected in advance depending on whether they would benefit from the treatment or not, i.e. this feature allows to predict whether the therapy of a cancer patient with compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) will be successful. Advantageously, the prediction allows the selection of those cancer patients who have a high probability of benefiting from therapy with the inventive compounds. Hence, the therapy can be targeted to those patients who are likely to benefit. Since every therapy may cause undesired side-effects, it is desirable to treat only those patients, where the possibility of side-effects is offset by the potential benefits of therapy. Patients who will most likely not benefit from treatment can be spared the hassles and the risk of side-effects. For the health system as a whole, the selection of suitable patients allows a more economical allocation of resources.

Therefore, the present invention further comprises a method for predicting whether therapy of a cancer patient with compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) will be successful comprising the steps of

-   -   a) determining the amount of β-Catenin or β-Catenin target genes         in a sample of the cancer patient, preferably in the nucleus of         cell of the sample; and     -   b) comparing the amount determined in step a) to a reference         amount; whereby it is predicted whether therapy of the cancer         patient with a compound of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and         (IIa) to (IIf) will be successful.

The term “sample” refers to a sample of a body fluid, to a sample of separated cells or to a sample from a tissue or an organ. Samples of body fluids can be obtained by well known techniques and include, preferably, samples of blood, plasma, serum, or urine, more preferably, samples of blood, plasma or serum. Tissue or organ samples may be obtained from any tissue or organ by, e.g., biopsy. Separated cells may be obtained from the body fluids or the tissues or organs by separating techniques such as centrifugation or cell sorting. Preferably, the sample contains cancer cells. More preferably, the sample is obtained by a biopsy of at least one tumor of the cancer patient.

The term “cancer patient” preferably refers to a mammal, more preferably to a primate and most preferably to a human. Preferably, the patient suffers from cancer, more preferably a cancer selected from the group described below.

In the context of the present invention, a therapy of a cancer patient with an inventive compound is successful if the administration of said compound leads to an effective treatment of the cancer the patient suffers from. Regarding the cancers specifically mentioned in this application the person skilled in the art knows the diagnostic methods and criteria to establish whether or not a treatment is effective. In general, an “effective treatment” of a cancer as referred to in the present application is any treatment which decreases the size of at least one tumor in the patient, which prevents or delays the recurrence of a tumor, which prevents or delays the formation of metastases, which relieves the symptoms caused by the cancer or which prevents or delays the further growth of at least one tumor in the patient. More preferably, the “effective treatment” cures the cancer of the patient. Criteria for the decision whether a cancer is cured are known to the person skilled in the art. Preferably, no tumors or cancerous cells are detectable in a cured patient and he/she does not exhibit any symptoms associated with the cancer in question. Preferably, the aforementioned condition lasts for at least 5 years.

The term “predicting” refers to the process of establishing a prognosis whether a treatment will be effective as described above. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, such a decision is usually not intended to be correct for 100% of the subjects to be diagnosed. The term, however, requires that a statistically significant portion of those subjects who can be treated successfully can be correctly determined. Whether a portion is statistically significant can be determined without further ado by the person skilled in the art using various well known statistic evaluation tools, e.g., determination of confidence intervals, p-value determination, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test etc. Details are found in Dowdy and Wearden, Statistics for Research, John Wiley & Sons, New York 1983. Preferred confidence intervals are at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99%. The p-values are, preferably, 0.1, 0.05, 0.01, 0.005, or 0.0001. Preferably, the probability envisaged by the present invention allows that the diagnosis will be correct for at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the subjects of a given cohort or population.

The term “beta-catenin” encompasses also variants of the aforementioned specific beta-catenin. Such variants have at least the same essential biological and immunological properties as the specific beta-catenin. In particular, they share the same essential biological and immunological properties if they are detectable by the same specific assays, e.g., by ELISA Assays using polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies specifically recognizing the said beta-catenin. Moreover, it is to be understood that a variant as referred to in accordance with the present invention shall have an amino acid sequence which differs due to at least one amino acid substitution, deletion and/or addition wherein the amino acid sequence of the variant is still, preferably, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 92%, at least about 95%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99% identical with the amino sequence of the specific beta-catenin, preferably over the entire length of the specific beta-catenin. Variants may be allelic variants or any other species specific homologs, paralogs, or orthologs. Moreover, the variants referred to herein include fragments of the specific beta-Catenin or the aforementioned types of variants as long as these fragments have the essential immunological and biological properties as referred to above. Preferably, the beta-catenin variants have immunological properties (i.e. epitope composition) comparable to those of human beta-catenin. Thus, the variants shall be recognizable by the aforementioned means or ligands used for determination of the amount of the beta-catenin. Such fragments may be, e.g., degradation products of beta-catenin. Further included are variants which differ due to posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation or myristylation.

A cell proliferation disorder is a disorder which is connected with some degree of abnormal cell proliferation. Especially, cell-proliferation disorders are important for the development of cancer. A list of cancers associated with an aberrant activation of Wnt signalling pathway can be found in Table 1 of N. Barker and H. Clevers “Mining the Wnt pathway for cancer therapeutics”, Nature Reviews, vol. 5, 2007, pages 997-1014 which is incorporated by reference. A further cell-proliferation disorder is proliferative skin disorders which are marked by unwanted or aberrant proliferation of cutaneous tissue, for example X-linked ichtyosis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and seborrheic dermatitis. In one preferred aspect, the invention relates to the use of the compounds according to the invention for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of cancer or proliferative skin disorder. Especially preferred the cancer is selected from cancers showing an increased level of beta-catenin or beta-catenin target genes in comparison to a normal tissue, preferably in the nuclei. Preferably, the normal tissue which is used for the comparison is the tissue the cancer originated from. Preferably, an increased level refers to a level which is increased by a factor of at least 5, at least 10, at least 50, at least 100 or at least 1000.

The determination of the amount of beta-catenin is well known to person skilled in the art. For example, immunofluoroescence may be used for this purpose. A description of this method may be found in Scholer-Dahirel, A., Schlabach, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2011) www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1104182108.

The Wnt-signalling pathway is also believed to be involved in the maintenance of stem or progenitor cells in a growing list of adult tissues that includes e.g. skin, blood, gut, prostate, muscle and the nervous system. Stem and progenitor cells are important for cell regeneration and consequently for aging and aging related processes. Therefore, the compounds of the invention are useable for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of aging and age-related disorders and/or diseases.

The compounds of the invention are especially suitable for the use for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of cancer wherein the cancer is a member of the group multiple myeloma, colon cancer, breast cancer, gastritic cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer, kidney cancer, leukaemia, gliomas, basal cell carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, mesothelioma, osteosarcoma, medulloblastomas and other primary CNS malignant neuroectodermal tumors.

Possible disorders or diseases which may be treated by administering a medicament prepared from the compounds for formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) are described in detail in US 2007/0219257 A1. Accordingly the compounds of the present invention are applicable to cell culture techniques wherein, whether for genetic or biochemical reasons, the cells have a Wnt receptor. Alternatively, a compound of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) may be employed in a related method directed towards cells which have a Wnt receptor. In vitro neuronal culture systems have proven to be fundamental and indispensable tools for the study of neural development, as well as the identification of neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF), ciliary trophic factors (CNTF), and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). One use of the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) may be in cultures of neuronal stem cells, such as in the use of such cultures for the generation of new neurons and glia. In such embodiments of the subject method, the cultured cells can be contacted with an aromatic compound of the present invention in order to alter the rate of proliferation of neuronal stem cells in the culture and/or alter the rate of differentiation, or to maintain the integrity of a culture of certain terminally differentiated neuronal cells. In an exemplary embodiment, the subject method can be used to culture, for example, sensory neurons or, alternatively, motorneurons: Such neuronal cultures can be used as convenient assay systems as well as sources of implantable cells for therapeutic treatments.

In another embodiment, the compounds of the invention can be used in the treatment of neoplastic or hyperplastic transformations such as may occur in the central nervous system. For instance, the compounds can be utilized to cause such transformed cells to become either post-mitotic or apoptotic. The compounds may, therefore, be used as part of a treatment for, e.g., malignant gliomas, meningiomas, medulloblastomas, neuroectodermal tumors, and ependymomas.

In another embodiment, the compounds of the invention can be used as part of a treatment regimen for malignant medulloblastoma and other primary CNS malignant neuroectodermal tumors.

In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention are used as part of treatment program for medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma, a primary brain tumor, is the most common brain tumor in children. A medulloblastoma is a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) arising in the posterior fossa. Histologically, they are small round cell tumors commonly arranged in true rosettes, but may display some differentiation to astrocytes, ependymal cells or neurons (Rorke; Kleihues). PNET's may arise in other areas of the brain including the pineal gland (pineoblastoma) and cerebrum.

Medulloblastoma/PNET's are known to recur anywhere in the CNS after resection, and can even metastasize to bone. Pretreatment evaluation should therefore include an examination of the spinal cord to exclude the possibility of “dropped metastases”. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI has largely replaced myelography for this purpose, and CSF cytology is obtained postoperatively as a routine procedure.

In other embodiments, the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) are used as part of a treatment program for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a form of cancer that arises from hepatocytes, the major cell type of the live, and is one of the most common tumors involving mutations in the Wnt pathway.

In other embodiments, the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) are used as part of treatment program for ependymomas. Ependymomas account for approximately 10% of the pediatric brain tumors in children. Grossly, they are tumors that arise from the ependymal lining of the ventricles and microscopically form rosettes, canals, and perivascular rosettes.

Yet another aspect of the present invention concerns the observation in the art that Wnt is involved in morphogenic signals involved in other vertebrate organogenic pathways in addition to neuronal differentiation as described above, having apparent roles in other endodermal patterning, as well as both mesodermal and endodermal differentiation processes. Thus, it is contemplated by the invention that compositions comprising one or more of the inventive compounds can also be utilized for both cell culture and therapeutic uses involving generation and maintenance of non-neuronal tissue.

In one embodiment, the present invention makes use of the discovery that Wnt is apparently involved in controlling the development of stem cells responsible for formation of the digestive tract, liver, lungs, and other organs which derive from the primitive gut. Therefore, for example, compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) can be employed for regulating the development and maintenance of an artificial liver which can have multiple metabolic functions of a normal liver. In an exemplary embodiment, the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) can be used to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of digestive tube stem cells to form hepatocyte cultures which can be used to populate extracellular matrices, or which can be encapsulated in biocompatible polymers, to form both implantable and extracorporeal artificial livers.

In another embodiment, therapeutic compositions of inventive compounds can be utilized in conjunction with transplantation of such artificial livers, as well as embryonic liver structures, to regulate uptake of intraperitoneal implantation, vascularization, and in vivo differentiation and maintenance of the engrafted liver tissue.

In yet another embodiment, the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) can be employed therapeutically to regulate such organs after physical, chemical or pathological insult. For instance, therapeutic compositions comprising the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) can be utilized in liver repair subsequent to a partial hepatectomy.

In the context of the present invention, it is contemplated therefore that the inventive compounds can be used to control or regulate the proliferation and/or differentiation of pancreatic tissue both in vivo and in vitro.

There are a wide variety of pathological cell proliferative and differentiative conditions for which the compounds of the present invention may provide therapeutic benefits, with the general strategy being, for example, the correction of aberrant insulin expression, or modulation of differentiation. More generally, however, the present invention relates to the use of the compounds of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) for inducing and/or maintaining a differentiated state, enhancing survival and/or affecting proliferation of pancreatic cells, by contacting the cells with the subject inhibitors. For instance, it is contemplated by the invention that, in light of the apparent involvement of Wnt in the formation of ordered spatial arrangements of pancreatic tissues, the compounds of the invention could be used as part of a technique to generate and/or maintain such tissue both in vitro and in vivo. For instance, modulation of the function of Wnt can be employed in both cell culture and therapeutic uses involving generation and maintenance β-cells and possibly also for non-pancreatic tissue, such as in controlling the development and maintenance of tissue from the digestive tract, spleen, lungs, colon, and other organs which derive from the primitive gut.

In an exemplary embodiment, the compounds of the invention can be used in the treatment of hyperplastic and neoplastic disorders effecting pancreatic tissue, particularly those characterized by aberrant proliferation of pancreatic cells. For instance, pancreatic cancers are marked by abnormal proliferation of pancreatic cells which can result in alterations of insulin secretory capacity of the pancreas. For instance, certain pancreatic hyperplasias, such as pancreatic carcinomas, can result in hypoinsulinemia due to dysfunction of β-cells or decreased islet cell mass. To the extent that aberrant Wnt signaling may be indicated in disease progression, the compounds of the invention can be used to enhance regeneration of the tissue after anti-tumor therapy.

Moreover, manipulation of Wnt signaling properties at different points may be useful as part of a strategy for reshaping/repairing pancreatic tissue both in vivo and in vitro. In one embodiment, the present invention makes use of the apparent involvement of Wnt in regulating the development of pancreatic tissue. In general, the compounds of the invention can be employed therapeutically to regulate the pancreas after physical, chemical or pathological insult. In yet another embodiment, the subject method can be applied to cell culture techniques, and in particular, may be employed to enhance the initial generation of prosthetic pancreatic tissue devices Manipulation of proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic tissue, for example, by altering Wnt, can provide a means for more carefully controlling the characteristics of a cultured tissue. Early progenitor cells to the pancreatic islets are multipotential, and apparently coactivate all the islet-specific genes from the time they first appear. As development proceeds, expression of islet-specific hormones, such as insulin, becomes restricted to the pattern of expression characteristic of mature islet cells. The phenotype of mature islet cells, however, is not stable in culture, as reappearance of embryonal traits in mature B-cells can be observed. By utilizing the compounds of the invention, the differentiation path or proliferative index of the cells can be regulated.

Furthermore, manipulation of the differentiative state of pancreatic tissue can be utilized in conjunction with transplantation of artificial pancreas so as to promote implantation, vascularization, and in vivo differentiation and maintenance of the engrafted tissue. For instance, manipulation of Wnt function to affect tissue differentiation can be utilized as a means of maintaining graft viability.

Many other tumors may, based on evidence such as involvement of the Wnt pathway in these tumors, or detected expression of Wnt or its receptors in these tissues during development, be affected by treatment with the compounds of the invention.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, compositions comprising one or more of the compounds of the invention can be used in the in vitro generation of skeletal tissue, such as from skeletogenic stem cells, as well as the in vivo treatment of skeletal tissue deficiencies. The present invention particularly contemplates the use of compounds of the invention to regulate the rate of chondrogenesis and/or osteogenesis. By “skeletal tissue deficiency”, it is meant a deficiency in bone or other skeletal connective tissue at any site where it is desired to restore the bone or connective tissue, no matter how the deficiency originated, e.g. whether as a result of surgical intervention, removal of tumor, ulceration, implant, fracture, or other traumatic or degenerative conditions.

For instance, the compounds of the invention can be used as part of a regimen for restoring cartilage function to a connective tissue. They are useful in, for example, the repair of defects or lesions in cartilage tissue which is the result of degenerative wear such as that which results in arthritis, as well as other mechanical derangements which may be caused by trauma to the tissue, such as a displacement of torn meniscus tissue, meniscectomy, a laxation of a joint by a torn ligament, malignment of joints, bone fracture, or by hereditary disease. The compounds of the invention may also be useful for remodeling cartilage matrix, such as in plastic or reconstructive surgery, as well as periodontal surgery. They may also be applied to improving a previous reparative procedure, for example, following surgical repair of a meniscus, ligament, or cartilage. Furthermore, it may prevent the onset or exacerbation of degenerative disease if applied early enough after trauma.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to the treating of the afflicted connective tissue with a therapeutically effective amount of compounds of the invention to regulate a cartilage repair response in the connective tissue by managing the rate of differentiation and/or proliferation of chondrocytes embedded in the tissue. Such connective tissues as articular cartilage, interarticular cartilage (menisci), costal cartilage (connecting the true ribs and the sternum), ligaments, and tendons are particularly amenable to treatment in reconstructive and/or regenerative therapies using the subject method. As used herein, regenerative therapies include treatment of degenerative states which have progressed to the point of which impairment of the tissue is obviously manifest, as well as preventive treatments of tissue where degeneration is in its earliest stages or imminent.

In an illustrative embodiment, the compounds of the invention can be used as part of a therapeutic intervention in the treatment of cartilage of a diarthroidal joint, such as a knee, an ankle, an elbow, a hip, a wrist, a knuckle of either a finger or toe, or a tempomandibular joint. The treatment can be directed to the meniscus of the joint, to the articular cartilage of the joint, or both. To further illustrate, the compounds of the invention can be used to treat a degenerative disorder of a knee, such as which might be the result of traumatic injury (e.g., a sports injury or excessive wear) or osteoarthritis. The compounds of the invention may be administered as an injection into the joint with, for instance, an arthroscopic needle. In some instances, the injected agent can be in the form of a hydrogel or other slow release vehicle described above in order to permit a more extended and regular contact of the agent with the treated tissue.

The present invention further contemplates the use of the compounds of the invention in the field of cartilage transplantation and prosthetic device therapies. However, problems arise, for instance, because the characteristics of cartilage and fibrocartilage vary between different tissue: such as between articular, meniscal cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, between the two ends of the same ligament or tendon, and between the superficial and deep parts of the tissue. The zonal arrangement of these tissues may reflect a gradual change in mechanical properties, and failure occurs when implanted tissue, which has not differentiated under those conditions, lacks the ability to appropriately respond. For instance, when meniscal cartilage is used to repair anterior cruciate ligaments, the tissue undergoes a metaplasia to pure fibrous tissue. By regulating the rate of chondrogenesis, the compounds of the invention can be used to particularly address this problem, by helping to adaptively control the implanted cells in the new environment and effectively resemble hypertrophic chondrocytes of an earlier developmental stage of the tissue.

In similar fashion, the compounds of the invention can be applied to enhancing both the generation of prosthetic cartilage devices and to their implantation. The need for improved treatment has motivated research aimed at creating new cartilage that is based on collagen-glycosaminogly-can templates (Stone et al., Clin. Orthop. Relat. Red 252:129 (1990)), isolated chondrocytes (Grande et al., J. Orthop. Res. 7:208 (1989); and Takigawa et al., Bone Miner 2:449 (1987)), and chondrocytes attached to natural or synthetic polymers (Walitani et al., J. Bone Jt. Surg. 71B:74 (1989); Vacanti et al., Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 88:753 (1991); von Schroeder et al. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 25:329 (1991); Freed et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 27:11 (1993); and the Vacanti et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,138). For example, chondrocytes can be grown in culture on biodegradable, biocompatible highly porous scaffolds formed from polymers such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, agarose gel, or other polymers which degrade over time as function of hydrolysis of the polymer backbone into innocuous monomers. The matrices are designed to allow adequate nutrient and gas exchange to the cells until engraftment occurs. The cells can be cultured in vitro until adequate cell volume and density has developed for the cells to be implanted. One advantage of the matrices is that they can be cast or molded into a desired shape on an individual basis, so that the final product closely resembles the patient's own ear or nose (by way of example), or flexible matrices can be used which allow for manipulation at the time of implantation, as in a joint.

In one embodiment of the invention, the implants are contacted with a subject aromatic compound during certain stages of the culturing process in order to manage the rate of differentiation of chondrocytes and the formation of hypertrophic chrondrocytes in the culture.

In another embodiment, the implanted device is treated with a compound of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) in order to actively remodel the implanted matrix and to make it more suitable for its intended function. As set out above with respect to tissue transplants, the artificial transplants suffer from the same deficiency of not being derived in a setting which is comparable to the actual mechanical environment in which the matrix is implanted. The ability to regulate the chondrocytes in the matrix by the subject method can allow the implant to acquire characteristics similar to the tissue for which it is intended to replace.

In yet another embodiment, the compounds of the invention are used to enhance attachment of prosthetic devices. To illustrate, the compounds of the invention can be used in the implantation of a periodontal prosthesis, wherein the treatment of the surrounding connective tissue stimulates formation of periodontal ligament about the prosthesis.

In other embodiments, the compounds of the invention can be employed as part of a regimen for the generation of bone (osteogenesis) at a site in the animal where such skeletal tissue is deficient. For instance, administration of a compound of the present invention can be employed as part of a method for regulating the rate of bone loss in a subject. For example, preparations comprising subject compounds can be employed, for example, to control endoch-ondral ossification in the formation of a “model” for ossification.

The compounds of the invention also have wide applicability to the treatment or prophylaxis of disorders afflicting epithelial tissue, as well as in cosmetic uses. In general, this includes a step of administering to an animal an amount of a subject aromatic compound effective to alter the growth state of a treated epithelial tissue. The mode of administration and dosage regimens will vary depending on the epithelial tissue(s) which is to be treated. For example, topical formulations will be preferred where the treated tissue is epidermal tissue, such as dermal or mucosal tissues.

Despite significant progress in reconstructive surgical techniques, scarring can be an important obstacle in regaining normal function and appearance of healed skin. This is particularly true when pathologic scarring such as keloids or hypertrophic scars of the hands or face causes functional disability or physical deformity. In the severest circumstances, such scarring may precipitate psychosocial distress and a life of economic deprivation. Wound repair includes the stages of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. The proliferative stage involves multiplication of fibroblasts and endothelial and epithelial cells. Through the use of the compounds of the invention, the rate of proliferation of epithelial cells in and proximal to the wound can be controlled in order to accelerate closure of the wound and/or minimize the formation of scar tissue.

The present treatment can also be effective as part of a therapeutic regimen for treating oral and paraoral ulcers, e.g., resulting from radiation and/or chemotherapy. Such ulcers commonly develop within days after chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These ulcers usually begin as small, painful irregularly shaped lesions usually covered by a delicate gray necrotic membrane and surrounded by inflammatory tissue. In many instances, a lack of treatment results in proliferation of tissue around the periphery of the lesion on an inflammatory basis. For instance, the epithelium bordering the ulcer usually demonstrates proliferative activity, resulting in loss of continuity of surface epithelium. These lesions, because of their size and loss of epithelial integrity, dispose the body to potential secondary infection. Routine ingestion of food and water becomes a very painful event and, if the ulcers proliferate throughout the alimentary canal, diarrhea usually is evident with all its complicating factors. According to the present invention, a treatment for such ulcers which includes application of a compound of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) can reduce the abnormal proliferation and differentiation of the affected epithelium, helping to reduce the severity of subsequent inflammatory events.

The compounds of the invention and compositions thereof can also be used to treat wounds resulting from dermatological diseases, such as lesions resulting from autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis. Atopic dermititis refers to skin trauma resulting from allergies associated with an immune response caused by allergens such as pollens, foods, dander, insect venoms and plant toxins.

In other embodiments, antiproliferative preparations of subject compounds can be used to inhibit lens epithelial cell proliferation to prevent post-operative complications of extracapsular cataract extraction. Cataract is an intractable eye disease and various studies on a treatment of cataract have been made. But at present, the treatment of cataract is attained by surgical operations. Cataract surgery has been applied for a long time and various operative methods have been examined. Extracapsular lens extraction has become the method of choice for removing cataracts. The major medical advantages of this technique over intra-capsular extraction are lower incidence of aphakic cystoid macular edema and retinal detachment. Extracapsular extraction is also required for implantation of posterior chamber type intraocular lenses which are now considered to be the lenses of choice in most cases.

However, a disadvantage of extracapsular cataract extraction is the high incidence of posterior lens capsule opacification, often called after-cataract, which can occur in up to 50% of cases within three years after surgery. After-cataract is caused by proliferation of equatorial and anterior capsule lens epithelial cells which remain after extracapsular lens extraction. These cells proliferate to cause Sommerling rings, and along with fibroblasts which also deposit and occur on the posterior capsule, cause opacification of the posterior capsule, which interferes with vision. Prevention of after-cataract would be preferable to treatment. To inhibit secondary cataract formation, the present invention provides a means for inhibiting proliferation of the remaining lens epithelial cells. For example, such cells can be induced to remain quiescent by instilling a solution containing a preparation of a compound of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) into the anterior chamber of the eye after lens removal. Furthermore, the solution can be osmotically balanced to provide minimal effective dosage when instilled into the anterior chamber of the eye, thereby inhibiting subcapsular epithelial growth with some specificity.

The compounds of the invention can also be used in the treatment of corneopathies marked by corneal epithelial cell proliferation, as for example in ocular epithelial disorders such as epithelial downgrowth or squamous cell carcinomas of the ocular surface.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the compounds of the invention to control hair growth. Hair is basically composed of keratin, a tough and insoluble protein; its chief strength lies in its disulphide bond of cystine. Each individual hair comprises a cylindrical shaft and a root, and is contained in a follicle, a flask-like depression in the skin. The bottom of the follicle contains a finger-like projection termed the papilla, which consists of connective tissue from which hair grows, and through which blood vessels supply the cells with nourishment. The shaft is the part that extends outwards from the skin surface, whilst the root has been described as the buried part of the hair. The base of the root expands into the hair bulb, which rests upon the papilla. Cells from which the hair is produced grow in the bulb of the follicle; they are extruded in the form of fibers as the cells proliferate in the follicle. Hair “growth” refers to the formation and elongation of the hair fiber by the dividing cells.

As is well known in the art, the common hair cycle is divided into three stages: anagen, catagen and telogen. During the active phase (anagen), the epidermal stem cells of the dermal papilla divide rapidly. Daughter cells move upward and differentiate to form the concentric layers of the hair itself. The transitional stage, catagen, is marked by the cessation of mitosis of the stem cells in the follicle. The resting stage is known as telogen, where the hair is retained within the scalp for several weeks before an emerging new hair developing below it dislodges the telogen-phase shaft from its follicle. From this model it has become clear that the larger the pool of dividing stem cells that differentiate into hair cells, the more hair growth occurs. Accordingly, methods for increasing or reducing hair growth can be carried out by potentiating or inhibiting, respectively, the proliferation of these stem cells.

In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention can be employed as a way of reducing the growth of human hair as opposed to its conventional removal by cutting, shaving, or depilation. For instance, the present method can be used in the treatment of trichosis characterized by abnormally rapid or dense growth of hair, e.g. hypertrichosis. In an exemplary embodiment, subject compounds can be used to manage hirsutism, a disorder marked by abnormal hairiness. The compounds of the invention can also provide a process for extending the duration of depilation.

Moreover, because a subject compound will often be cytostatic to epithelial; cells, rather than cytotoxic, such agents can be used to protect hair follicle cells from cytotoxic agents which require progression into S-phase of the cell-cycle for efficacy, e.g. radiation-induced death. Treatment by the compounds of the invention can provide protection by causing the hair follicle cells to become quiescent, e.g., by inhibiting the cells from entering S phase, and thereby preventing the follicle cells from undergoing mitotic catastrophe or programmed cell death. For instance, compounds of the invention can be used for patients undergoing chemo- or radiation-therapies which ordinarily result in hair loss. By inhibiting cell-cycle progression during such therapies, the subject treatment can protect hair follicle cells from death which might otherwise result from activation of cell death programs. After the therapy has concluded, the administration of compounds of the invention can be stopped with concommitant relief of the inhibition of follicle cell proliferation.

The compounds of the invention can also be used in the treatment of folliculitis, such as folliculitis decalvans, folliculitis ulerythematosa reticulata or keloid folliculitis. For example, a cosmetic preparation of a compound of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) can be applied topically in the treatment of pseudofolliculitis, a chronic disorder occurring most often in the submandibular region of the neck and associated with shaving, the characteristic lesions of which are erythematous papules and pustules containing buried hairs.

In another aspect of the invention, the compounds of the invention can be used to induce differentiation and/or inhibit proliferation of epithelially derived tissue. Such forms of these molecules can provide a basis for differentiation therapy for the treatment of hyperplastic and/or neoplastic conditions involving epithelial tissue. For example, such preparations can be used for the treatment of cutaneous diseases in which there is abnormal proliferation or growth of cells of the skin.

For instance, the pharmaceutical preparations of the invention are intended for the treatment of hyperplastic epidermal conditions, such as keratosis, as well as for the treatment of neoplastic epidermal conditions such as those characterized by a high proliferation rate for various skin cancers, as for example basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. The compounds of the invention can also be used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases affecting the skin, in particular, of dermatological diseases involving morbid proliferation and/or keratinization of the epidermis, as for example, caused by psoriasis or atopic dermatosis.

Many common diseases of the skin, such as psoriasis, squamous cell carcinoma, keratoacanthoma and actinic keratosis are characterized by localized abnormal proliferation and growth. For example, in psoriasis, which is characterized by scaly, red, elevated plaques on the skin, the keratinocytes are known to proliferate much more rapidly than normal and to differentiate less completely.

In one embodiment, the preparations of the present invention are suitable for the treatment of dermatological ailments linked to keratinization disorders causing abnormal proliferation of skin cells, which disorders may be marked by either inflammatory or non-inflammatory components. To illustrate, therapeutic preparations of an inventive compound, e.g., which promotes quiescense or differentiation, can be used to treat varying forms of psoriasis, be they cutaneous, mucosal orungual. Psoriasis, as described above, is typically characterized by epidermal keratinocytes which display marked proliferative activation and differentiation along a “regenerative” pathway. Treatment with an antipro-liferative compound of the invention can be used to reverse the pathological epidermal activiation and can provide a basis for sustained remission of the disease.

A variety of other keratotic lesions are also candidates for treatment with the compounds of the invention. Actinic keratoses, for example, are superficial inflammatory premalig-nant tumors arising on sun-exposed and irradiated skin. The lesions are erythematous to brown with variable scaling. Current therapies include excisional and cryosurgery. These treatments are painful, however, and often produce cosmetically unacceptable scarring. Accordingly, treatment of keratosis, such as actinic keratosis, can include application, preferably topical, of a composition containing at least one compound of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) in amounts sufficient to inhibit hyperproliferation of epidermal/epidermoid cells of the lesion.

Acne represents yet another dermatologic ailment which may be treated by the compounds of the invention. Acne vulgaris, for instance, is a multifactorial disease most commonly occurring in teenagers and young adults, and is characterized by the appearance of inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions on the face and upper trunk. The basic defect which gives rise to acne vulgaris is hypercornification of the duct of a hyperactive sebaceous gland. Hypercornification blocks the normal mobility of skin and follicle microorganisms, and in so doing, stimulates the release of lipases by Propinobac-terium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria and Pitrosporum ovale, a yeast. Treatment with an antiproliferative compound of formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf), particularly topical preparations, may be useful for preventing the transitional features of the ducts, e.g. hypercornification, which lead to lesion formation. The subject treatment may further include, for example, antibiotics, retinoids and antiandrogens.

The present invention also provides a method for treating various forms of dermatitis. Dermatitis is a descriptive term referring to poorly demarcated lesions which are either pruritic, erythematous, scaly, blistered, weeping, fissured or crusted. These lesions arise from any of a wide variety of causes. The most common types of dermatitis are atopic, contact and diaper dermatitis. For instance, seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic, usually pruritic, dermatitis with erythema, dry, moist, or greasy scaling, and yellow crusted patches on various areas, especially the scalp, with exfoliation of an excessive amount of dry scales. The compounds of the invention can also be used in the treatment of stasis dermatitis, an often chronic, usually eczematous dermatitis. Actinic dermatitis is dermatitis that due to exposure to actinic radiation such as that from the sun, ultraviolet waves or x- or gamma-radiation. According to the present invention, the compounds of the invention can be used in the treatment and/or prevention of certain symptoms of dermatitis caused by unwanted proliferation of epithelial cells. Such therapies for these various forms of dermatitis can also include topical and systemic corticosteroids, antipuritics, and antibiotics.

Ailments which may be treated by the compounds of the invention are disorders specific to non-humans, such as mange.

In still another embodiment, the compounds of the invention can be used in the treatment of human cancers, particularly basal cell carcinomas and other tumors of epithelial tissues such as the skin. For example, compounds of the invention can be employed, in the subject method, as part of a treatment for basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), and other other human carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, sarcomas and the like.

In another embodiment, the compounds of the invention are used as part of a treatment of prophylaxis regimen for treating (or preventing) basal cell carcinoma. The deregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway may be a general feature of basal cell carcinomas caused by ptc mutations. Consistent overexpres-sion of human ptc mRNA has been described in tumors of familial and sporadic BCCs, determined by in situ hybridization. Mutations that inactivate ptc may be expected to result in overexpression of mutant Ptc, because ptc displays negative autoregulation. Likewise, mutations that inactivate Wnt may be expected to result in overexpression of mutant Wnt, because Wnt displays negative autoregulation. Prior research demonstrates that overexpression of hedgehog proteins can also lead to tumorigenesis. That sonic hedgehog (Shh) has a role in tumorigenesis in the mouse has been suggested by research in which transgenic mice overexpressing Shh in the skin developed features of BCNS, including multiple BCC-like epidermal proliferations over the entire skin surface, after only a few days of skin development. A mutation in the Shh human gene from a BCC was also described; it was suggested that Wnt, Shh or other Hh genes in humans could act as dominant oncogenes in humans. Sporadic ptc mutations have also been observed in BCCs from otherwise normal individuals, some of which are UV-signature mutations. In one recent study of sporadic BCCs, five UV-signature type mutations, either CT or CCTT changes, were found out of fifteen tumors determined to contain ptc mutations. Another recent analysis of sporadic ptc mutations in BCCs and neuroectodermal tumors revealed one CT change in one of three ptc mutations found in the BCCs. See, for example, Goodrich et al., Science 277:1109-13 (1997); Xie et al. Cancer Res. 57:2369-72 (1997); Oro et al. Science 276:817-21 (1997); Xie et al, Genes Chromosomes Cancer 18:305-9 (1997); Stone et al, Nature 384:129-34 (1996); and Johnson et al. Science 272:1668-71 (1996).

The compounds of the invention can also be used to treat patients with BCNS, e.g., to prevent BCC or other effects of the disease which may be the result of Wnt-mediated disorders. Basal cell nevus syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple BCCs that appear at a young age. BCNS patients are very susceptible to the development of these tumors; in the second decade of life, large numbers appear, mainly on sun-exposed areas of the skin. This disease also causes a number of developmental abnormalities, including rib, head and face alterations, and sometimes polydactyl), syndactyl), and spina bifida. They also develop a number of tumor types in addition to BCCs: fibromas of the ovaries and heart, cysts of the skin and jaws, and in the central nervous system, medulloblas-tomas and meningiomas. The compounds of the invention can be used to prevent or treat such tumor types in BCNS and non-BCNS patients. Studies of BCNS patients show that they have both genomic and sporadic mutations in the ptc gene, suggesting that these mutations are the ultimate cause of this disease.

In another aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical preparations and methods for controlling the formation of megakaryocyte-derived cells and/or controlling the functional performance of megakaryocyte-derived cells. For instance, certain of the compositions disclosed herein may be applied to the treatment or prevention of a variety hyperplastic or neoplastic conditions affecting platelets.

Furthermore, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one compound according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one compound according to the invention in a mixture with an inert carrier, where said inert carrier is a pharmaceutical carrier.

The term “carrier” refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the compound is administered. Such pharmaceutical carriers can be sterile liquids, such as water and oils, including those of petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, including but not limited to peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil and the like. Water is a preferred carrier when the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally. Saline and aqueous dextrose are preferred carriers when the pharmaceutical composition is administered intravenously. Saline solutions and aqueous dextrose and glycerol solutions are preferably employed as liquid carriers for injectable solutions. Suitable pharmaceutical excipients include starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanol and the like. The composition, if desired, can also contain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents. These compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions, emulsions, tablets, pills, capsules, powders, sustained-release formulations and the like. The composition can be formulated as a suppository, with traditional binders and carriers such as triglycerides. Oral formulation can include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc. Examples of suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences” by E. W. Martin. Such compositions will contain a therapeutically effective amount of the compound, preferably in purified form, together with a suitable amount of carrier so as to provide the form for proper administration to the patient. The formulation should suit the mode of administration.

The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of a medicament comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) preparing at least one compound according to the formulae         (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to (IIf) and     -   b) formulating a medicament containing at least said compound;         and to a method of treating a mammal for modulating the Wnt         signalling pathway wherein the method comprises administering to         said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound         according to formulae (I), (Ia) to (If), (II) and (IIa) to         (IIf).

The compounds according to the invention used for the preparation of a medicament for the modulation of the Wnt signalling pathway in a mammal may be administered in any convenient route. The compounds are formulated to be compatible with the desired route of administration and may be administered together with other biologically active agents.

The compounds may be formulated for the intravenous, intradermal, subcutanus, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, epidural, oral, transdermal, transmucosal, rectal or pulmonary administration. Administration can be systemic or local. Pulmonary administration can be employed by use of an inhaler or nebulizer, and formulation with an aerosolizing agent, for example. In another embodiment, the compound can be delivered in a vesicle, in particular a liposome (Langer (1990) Science 249, 1527.

In yet another embodiment, the compound can be delivered via a controlled release system. In one embodiment, a pump may be used (Sefton (1987) CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14, 201; Buchwald et al. (1980) Surgery 88, 507; Saudek et al. (1989) N. Engl. J. Med. 321, 574). In another embodiment, polymeric materials can be used (Ranger and Peppas (1983) Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23, 61; Levy et al. (1985) Science 228, 190; During et al. (1989) Ann. Neurol. 25, 351; Howard et al. (1989) J. Neurosurg. 71, 858). In yet another embodiment, a controlled release system can be placed in proximity of the therapeutic target, i.e., the brain, thus requiring only a fraction of the systemic dose (e.g. Goodson, 1984, In: Medical Applications of Controlled Release, supra, Vol. 2, 115). Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review by Langer (1990, Science 249, 1527).

Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of the compounds of the invention can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals. The results obtained from the cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulating the range of dosage for use in medicaments in humans. The specific dosage for any particular subject is influenced by several factors, e.g. by the activity of the specific compound used, the age, body weight, general health, gender and diet of the subject, the time and the route of administration and the rate of excretion.

EXAMPLES Example 1 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (1)

1-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (245 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μl) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS (Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature and diluted with water to about 15 ml drop wise addition. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for about 1 h. Thus formed precipitates were collected by filtration, washed well with 60% aqueous ethanol and dried under high vacuum to get 394 mg (0.90 mmol, 90%) of the pure solids of the title compound.

Example 2 2-Amino-4-(4-benzyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (2)

1-Naphthol (2.16 g, 15 mmol), 4-benzyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (4 g, 12.5 mmol) and malononitrile (825 mg, 12.5 mmol) were taken in 30 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (200 μl) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 60 ml water and stirred for about 2 h at room temperature. Thus formed precipitates were collected by filtration, washed with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and dried under high vacuum yielding pure solids of the title compound (6.0 g, 11.7 mmol, 93.5%).

Example 3 2-Amino-4-(4-allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (3)

1-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 4-allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (271 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μl) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 10 ml water, stirred for 2 h at room temperature, solids were collected by filtration, washed well with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and dried under high vacuum yielding 370 mg (0.8 mmol, 80%) of the title compound.

Example 4 4-(4-Allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-amino-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (4)

1-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 4-allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (271 mg, 1 mmol) and ethyl cyanoacetate (113 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 10 ml water, stirred for 2 h at room temperature, solids were collected by filtration, washed with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and dried (270 mg, 0.58 mmol, 58%).

Example 5 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (5)

2-Amino-4-(4-benzyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (2) (2 g, 3.89 mmol) was taken in 20 ml acetic acid and charged with 10M hydrochloric acid (10 ml) under vigorous stirring at room temperature, and stirred further at room temperature until the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was then diluted with 50 ml water, stirred for 3 h at room temperature, thus formed solids were separated by filtration, washed with water and then dried under high vacuum (1.61 g, 3.8 mmol, 97.8%).

Example 6 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester(6)

1-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (245 mg, 1 mmol) and ethyl cyanoacetate (113 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μl) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 15 ml and stirred for 1 h at room temperature. The solids were collected by filtration, washed well with 60% aq ethanol and dried under high vacuum (420 mg, 0.86 mmol, 86%).

Example 7 2-Amino-4-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (7)

1-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3,4,5-trifluorobenzaldehyde (160 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μl) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 15 ml and stirred for about 1 h room temperature. The solids were collected by filtration, washed with 60% aq. ethanol and dried under high vacuum to yield the title compound (284 mg, 0.81 mmol, 81%).

Example 8 2-Amino-7-hydroxy-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (8)

1,5-Dihydroxy-naphthalene (704 mg, 4.4 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (triethylenediamine) (48.4 μL 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature. The mixture was diluted with water to about 100 ml, stirred at room temperature for 1 h and the precipitates were separated by filtration. It was washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum (1.18 g, 2.6 mmol, 59%).

Example 9 2-Amino-6-hydroxy-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (9)

1,4-Dihydroxy-naphthalene (704 mg, 4.4 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benz-aldehyde (1077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then refluxed with stirring under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature. The mixture was diluted with water to about 100 ml, stirred at room temperature for 1 h and the precipitates were separated by filtration. It was washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum (1.68 g, 3.7 mmol, 84%).

Example 10 2,7-Diamino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (10)

5-Amino-naphthol (700 mg, 4.4 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature. The mixture was diluted with water to about 100 ml, stirred at room temperature for 1 h and the precipitates were separated by filtration. It was washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum (1.58 g, 3.5 mmol, 79.5%).

Example 11 2,4,7-Triamino-5-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-5H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile (11)

2,4-Diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine (555 mg, 4.4 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature. The mixture was diluted with water to about 100 ml, stirred at room temperature for 1 h and the precipitates were separated by filtration. It was washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum to get the title compound (1.47 g, 3.51 mmol, 79.7% of the theoretical yield).

Example 12 7-Amino-4-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-5H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbon (12)

4,6-Dihydroxy-2-methylpyrimidine (555 mg, 4.4 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature. The mixture was diluted with water to about 100 ml, stirred at room temperature for 1 h and the precipitates were separated by filtration. It was washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum (1.38 g, 3.29 mmol, 74.8% of the theoretical yield).

Example 13 7-Amino-4-hydroxy-5-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-5H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile (13)

4,6-Dihydroxypyrimidine (493 mg, 4.4 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature. The mixture was diluted with water to about 100 ml, stirred at room temperature for 1 h and the precipitates were separated by filtration. It was washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum (1.43 g, 3.53 mmol, 80%).

Example 14 7-Amino-5-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-2,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile (14)

4-Hydroxy-2,6-dimethylpyrimidine (546 mg, 4.4 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 2 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature. The mixture was diluted with water to about 100 ml, stirred at room temperature for 1 h and the precipitates were separated by filtration. It was washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum (1.52 g, 3.64 mmol, 82.8%).

Example 15 7-Amino-5-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4-hydroxy-5H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile (15)

2,4-Dihydroxypyridine (488 mg, 4.4 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 2 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol, 30% mol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature. The mixture was diluted with water to about 100 ml, stirred at room temperature for 1 h and the precipitates were separated by filtration. It was washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum (1.47 g, 3.64 mmol, 82.7%).

Example 16 3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-6-methyl-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (16)

8-Hydroxyquinaldine (382 mg, 2.4 mmol), 5-bromo-3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (490 mg, 2 mmol) and malononitrile (132 mg, 2 mmol) were taken in 25 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (22 μl, 0.3 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 3 days. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and then extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 ml). The organic solution was washed with 5% sodium bicarbonate solution (2×50 ml) and then dried over magnesium sulfate, solvent was evaporated under vacuum at 40° C. and the residue was dried under high vacuum giving 217 mg of the title compound (0.48 mmol, 20%).

Example 17 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-5-hydroxy-4H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline-3-carbonitrile (17)

2,4-Quinolinediol (193 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (245 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 25 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (11 μl, 0.1 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 21 h whereby the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and stirred for over night at room temperature. The solids were collected by filtration, washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under high vacuum yielding 395 mg (0.87 mmol, 87%) of the pure title compound.

Example 18 6-Amino-8-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-8H-5-oxa-1-aza-phenanthrene-7-carbonitrile (18)

5-Hydroxyquinoline (174 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (245 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 25 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (11 μl, 0.1 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 21 h. The reaction mixture was cooled down to the room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and stirred for over night. The solids were collected by filtration, washed with well 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and dried under high vacuum yielding 134 mg (0.36 mmol, 36%) of the title compound.

Example 19 3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-6-hydroxy-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (19)

2,8-Quinolinediol (193 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (245 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 25 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (33 μl, 0.3 mmol) and then stirred at 90° C. under LC-MS control for 3 days. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 ml). The organic solution was washed with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution (2×50 ml) and then dried over magnesium sulfate, solvent was evaporated under vacuum at 40 C and dried (18 mg, 0.04 mmol, 4%).

Example 20 3,6-Diamino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (20)

2-Amino-8-hydroxyquinoline (192 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (245 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were suspended in 25 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (33 μl, 0.3 mmol) and then stirred at 90° C. under LC-MS control for 6 days. The desired product was formed as a main component with some side products and a small amount of starting material was left. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and stirred for over night at room temperature. Thus resulting precipitates were collected by filtration, washed well with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and finally with small portion of 10% ethyl acetate in cyclohexane and then dried under high vacuum to get pure solids (202 mg, 0.45 mmol, 45%) of the title compound.

Example 21 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carboxamidine (21)

2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (1) (4.38 g, 10 mmol), hydroxylamine hydrochloride (2.80 g, 40 mmol) and potassium carbonate (2.80 g, 1 mmol) were suspended in 80 ml ethanol at room temperature then stirred under LC-MS control 48 h. The reaction was clean with a minor side product (<3%). The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate to about 150 ml and stirred for 2 h at room temperature. Thus resulting insoluble salt was separated by filtration, washed well with ethyl acetate and the combined organic solution was evaporated to dryness at 40° C. under vacuum and the residue was dried under high vacuum to get solids (4.70 g, 10 mmol, 100% theoretical yield) of the title compound.

Example 22 3-[2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromen-3-yl]-4H-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-one (22)

2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carboxamidine

(21), (118 mg, 0.25 mmol) and diimidazole carbonyl (40.5 mg, 0.25 mmol) are suspended in 10 ml tetrahydrofuran at room temperature and then is stirred under LC-MS control under heating. The reaction mixture is diluted with water to about 50 ml and stirred for 2 h at room temperature. Thus resulting precipitates are separated by filtration, washed well with water and is dried under high vacuum to get solids of the title compound.

Example 23 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-chloroacetylhydroxy-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carboxamidine (23)

2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-hydroxy-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carboxamidine (21) (118 mg, 0.25 mmol) and triethylamine (35 ml, 0.25 mmol) are taken in 10 ml tetrahydrofuran at −5° C. and is charged with chloroacetyl chloride (23 mg, 0.25 mmol) by drop wise addition under strong stirring. The reaction mixture is then stirred allowing to come to room temperature under LC-MS control and is stirred further at room temperature till the reaction is complete. The reaction mixture is diluted with water to about 50 ml and stirred for 2 h at room temperature. Thus resulting precipitates are separated by filtration, washed well with water and is dried under high vacuum to get solids of the title compound.

Example 24 4-(3-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-3-(5-chloromethyl-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-4H-benzo[h]chromen-2-ylamine (24)

2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-N-chloroacetylhydroxy-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carboxamidine (23) (137 mg, 0.25 mmol) is taken in 10 ml xylene and refluxed under LC-MS control and is stirred further at room temperature till the reaction is complete. The reaction mixture is diluted with water to about 50 ml and stirred for 2 h at room temperature. Thus resulting precipitates are separated by filtration, washed well with water and is dried under high vacuum to get solids of the title compound.

Example 25 4-(4-Allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-amino-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (25)

2-Naphthol (170 g, 1.2 mmol), 4-allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (271 g, 1 mmol) and ethyl cyanoacetate (113 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 10 ml water, stirred for 2 h at room temperature, solids were collected by filtration, washed with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and dried (386 mg, 0.76 mmol, 76%).

Example 26 4-(4-Allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-phenyl)-2-amino-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-Carbonitrile (26)

2-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 4-allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (271 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 10 ml water, stirred for 2 h at room temperature, solids were collected by filtration, washed with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and dried (235 mg, 0.51 mmol, 51%).

Example 27 2-Amino-4-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (27)

2-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3,4,5-trifluorobenzaldehyde (160 mg, 1 mmol) and ethyl cyanoacetate (113 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 15 ml, stirred for 1 h, solids were collected by filtration, washed with 60% aq ethanol and dried (346 mg, 0.86 mmol, 86%).

Examples 28 and 29 2-Amino-4-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbonitrile (29) and 2-Amino-4-(3,5-difluoro-4-piperidin-1-yl-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbonitrile (30)

2-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3,4,5-trifluorobenzaldehyde (160 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. Two products were formed. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 50 ml, extracted with ethyl acetate (2×25 ml), organic solution was dried over magnesium sulfate, solvent was evaporated, residue was washed well with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and then dried. The residue was separated on HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) (21 mm×250 mm, RP18, 5 mm) with a methanol/water gradient (5% MeOH to MeOH in 25 min, flow 21 ml/min) to 2-amino-4-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbonitrile (28) (137 mg, 38.9%) and 2-amino-4-(3,5-difluoro-4-piperidin-1-yl-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbonitrile (29) (120 mg, 28.8%).

Example 30 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbonitrile (30)

2-(3-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzylidene)-malononitrile (345 mg, 1.17 mmol) and 2-naphthole (203 mg, 1.4 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol, charged with piperidine (50 μL) at room temperature and then stirred at 80° C. for 5 h. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to 20 ml, solids were separated by filtration, washed with methanol and dried under high vacuum yield pure solids of the title compound (358 mg, 82%).

Example 31 2-Dimethylamino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbonitrile (31)

2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carbonitrile (30) (24 mg) was taken in 1 ml dry DMF (dimethylformamide) and then charged with methyl iodide (30 μl) and potassium carbonate (30 mg) at room temperature. The reaction was completed after 20 h stirring at room temperature. The title compound was purified on HPLC (21 mm×250 mm, RP18, 5 mm) with a Methanol/water gradient (5% MeOH to MeOH in 25 min, flow 21 ml/min) to yield pale yellowish solids (18 mg).

Example 32 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[g]chromene-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (32)

2-Naphthol (170 mg, 1.2 mmol), 5-bromo-3,4-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (245 mg, 1 mmol) and ethyl cyanoacetate (113 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 5 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μl) and then stirred at 80° C. for 18 h. Reaction was complete and clean. The reaction mixture was then cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to 20 ml, solids were separated by filtration, washed with methanol and dried under high vacuum (360 mg, 74%).

Example 33 3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (33)

8-Hydroxychinoline (14.5 g, 100 mmol), 5-bromo-3,4-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (20.4 g, 83.33 mmol) and malononitrile (5.5 g, 83.33 mmol) were taken in 250 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (917 μl, 8.33 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 days. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 500 ml and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 ml). The ethyl acetate solution was washed with 5% sodium bicarbonate solution (2×100 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, solvent was then evaporated under vacuum at 40° C. and the solids were dried under high vacuum to yield 22.5 g (61.6%) of the title compound.

Example 34 3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-9-chloro-1H-4-oxa-10-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (34)

1-Chloro-4-hydroxyisoquinone (790 mg, 4.4 mmol), 5-bromo-3,4-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1.077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 24 h. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and the precipitates were collected by filtration, washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum to yield the title compound (1.7 g, 3.6 mmol, 82%).

Example 35 3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-9-chloro-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (35)

5-Chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline (790.2 mg, 4.4 mmol), 5-bromo-3,4-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1.077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 18 h. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and the solid were collected by filtration. It was washed with 50% aqueous ethanol. The solids were taken in 15 ml 2-propanol and stirred at 60° C. for 10 minutes, cooled down by dipping the flask in an ice bath, the solids were filtered and dried under vacuum to get the pure title compound (1.25 g, 2.64 mmol, 60%).

Example 36 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-1-oxa-10-aza-phenanthrene-3-carbonitrile (36)

3-Hydroxyisoquinoline (638 mg, 4.4 mmol), 5-bromo-3,4-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1.077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μl, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 24 h. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and the precipitates were collected by filtration, washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum to yield the title compound (1.35 g, 3.08 mmol, 70%).

Example 37 3,5-Diamino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-benzo[f]chromene-2-carbonitrile (37)

3-Aminonaphthol (700.5 mg, 4.4 mmol), 5-bromo-3,4-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (1.077 mg, 4.4 mmol) and malononitrile (295 mg, 4.4 mmol) were taken in 40 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with DABCO (48.4 μL, 1.46 mmol) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control for 24 h. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 100 ml and the precipitates were collected by filtration, washed well with 50% aqueous ethanol and dried under vacuum to yield the title compound (1.55 g, 3.43 mmol, 78%).

Example 38 6-Amino-8-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-8H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromene-7-carbonitrile (38)

3-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (245 mg, 1 mmol), malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) and sesamol (166 mg, 1.2 mmol) were taken in 10 ml ethanol, charged with piperidine (50 μl, 0.5 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 3 h. The reaction mixture was then stirred at 80° C. for 64 h. Reaction was complete with the desired product. The reaction mixture was first cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 30 ml, precipitates were collected by filtration, washed with 1:1 mixture of water and methanol (30 ml) and dried to pure solids (348 mg, 81%) under high vacuum.

Example 39 6-Amino-8-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-8H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromene-7-carbonitrile (39)

3,4-Methylenedioxyphenol (166 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3,4,5-trifluorobenzaldehyde (160 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 15 ml, stirred for 1 h, solids were collected by filtration, washed with 60% aq ethanol and dried (303 mg, 0.88 mmol, 88%).

Example 40 6-Amino-8-(3,4,5-trifluoro-phenyl)-8H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromene-7-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (40)

3,4-Methylenedioxyphenol (166 mg, 1.2 mmol), 3,4,5-trifluorobenzaldehyde (160 mg, 1 mmol) and ethyl cyanoacetate (113 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with water to about 15 ml, stirred for 1 h, solids were collected by filtration, washed with 60% aq. ethanol and dried (280 mg, 0.71 mmol, 71%).

Example 41 8-(4-Allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-phenyl)-6-amino-8H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromene-7-carbonitrile (41)

3,4-Methylenedioxyphenol (166 mg, 1.2 mmol), 4-allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (271 mg, 1 mmol) and malononitrile (66 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 10 ml water, stirred for 2 h at room temperature, solids were collected by filtration, washed with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and dried (200 mg, 0.44 mmol, 44%).

Example 42 8-(4-Allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-phenyl)-6-amino-8H-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromene-7-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (42)

3,4-Methylenedioxyphenol (166 mg, 1.2 mmol), 4-allyloxy-3-bromo-5-methoxy-benzaldehyde (271 g, 1 mmol) and ethyl cyanoacetate (113 mg, 1 mmol) were taken in 7 ml ethanol at room temperature, charged with piperidine (50 μL) and then stirred at 80° C. under LC-MS control till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, diluted with 10 ml water, stirred for 2 h at room temperature, solids were collected by filtration, washed with 1:1 mixture of ethanol/water and dried (239 mg, 0.47 mmol, 47%).

Example 43 1-[3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-2-cyano-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthren-6-yl]-3-ethyl-urea (43)

3,6-Diamino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (20) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) and ethylisocyanate (8.4 mg, 0.12 mmol) were taken in 2 ml dry acetonitril and stirred at 60° C. monitoring the reaction with LC-MS. The solvent was evaporated after the completion of the reaction. The residue was separated on HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) (21 mm×250 mm, RP18, 5 mm) with a methanol/water gradient (5% MeOH to MeOH in 25 min, flow 21 ml/min) to get the title compound (38 mg, 73%).

Example 44 1-[3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-2-cyano-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthren-6-yl]-3-methyl-thiourea (44)

3,6-Diamino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (20) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) and ethylthioisocyanate (10.4 mg, 0.12 mmol) were taken in 2 ml dry acetonitril and stirred at 60° C. monitoring the reaction with LC-MS. The solvent was evaporated after the completion of the reaction. The residue was separated on HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) (21 mm×250 mm, RP18, 5 mm) with a methanol/water gradient (5% MeOH to MeOH in 25 min, flow 21 ml/min) to get the title compound (32 mg, 59%).

Example 45 3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-6-methylamino-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (45)

3,6-Diamino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (20) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) and potassium carbonate (7.5 mg, 0.05 mmol) were taken in 5 ml dry acetonitril, charged with iodomethane (15.4 mg, 0.11 mmol) and stirred at room temperature monitoring the reaction with LC-MS. The solvent was evaporated after the completion of the reaction. The residue was separated on HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) (21 mm×250 mm, RP18, 5 mm) with a methanol/water gradient (5% MeOH to MeOH in 25 min, flow 21 ml/min) to get the title compound (41 mg, 87.8%).

Example 46 N-[3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-2-cyano-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthren-6-yl]-acetamide (46)

3,6-Diamino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (20) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) was taken in 2 ml pyridine at 0° C., charged with acetic anhydride (11 mg, 0.11 mmol) by drop wise addition and stirred at room temperature monitoring the reaction with LC-MS. The solvent was evaporated after the completion of the reaction. The residue was separated on HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) (21 mm×250 mm, RP18, 5 mm) with a methanol/water gradient (5% MeOH to MeOH in 25 min, flow 21 ml/min) to get the title compound (35 mg, 71.4%).

Example 47 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-7-methoxy-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (47)

2-Amino-7-hydroxy-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (8) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) and potassium carbonate (14 mg, 0.1 mmol) were taken in dry acetonitril (5 ml) at room temperature, stirred for 1 h, charged with iodomethane (15.6 mg, 0.11 mmol) and stirred further at room temperature under LC-MS control. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 ml) under stirring, stirred further at room temperature for 2 h, the precipitates were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to get the title compound (43 mg, 92%).

Example 48 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-6-methoxy-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (48)

2-Amino-6-hydroxy-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (9) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) and potassium carbonate (14 mg, 0.1 mmol) were taken in dry acetonitril (5 ml) at room temperature, stirred for 1 h, charged with iodomethane (15.6 mg, 0.11 mmol) and stirred further at room temperature under LC-MS control. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 ml) under stirring, stirred further at room temperature for 2 h, the precipitates were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to get the title compound (40 mg, 85.6%).

Example 49 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-7-methylamino-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (49)

2,7-Diamino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (10) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) and potassium carbonate (14 mg, 0.1 mmol) were taken in dry acetonitril (5 ml) at room temperature, stirred for 1 h, charged with iodomethane (15.6 mg, 0.11 mmol) and stirred further at room temperature under LC-MS control. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 ml) under stirring, stirred further at room temperature for 2 h, the precipitates were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to get the title compound (42 mg, 89.9%).

Example 50 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-7-dimethylamino-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (50)

2,7-Diamino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (10) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) and potassium carbonate (21 mg, 0.15 mmol) were taken in dry acetonitril (5 ml) at room temperature, stirred for 1 h, charged with iodomethane (31.2 mg, 0.22 mmol) and stirred further at room temperature under LC-MS control. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 ml) under stirring, stirred further at room temperature for 2 h, the precipitates were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to get the title compound (41 mg, 85.4%).

Example 51 2-Amino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-7-acetylamino-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (51)

2,7-Diamino-4-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitrile (10) (45 mg, 0.1 mmol) was taken in pyridine (2 ml) at 0° C., charged with acetic anhydride (11 mg, 0.11 mmol) and stirred further at 0° C. under LC-MS control. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 ml) under stirring, stirred further at room temperature for 2 h, the precipitates were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to get the title compound (46 mg, 93%).

Example 52 4-(3-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-3-(5-methylaminomethyl-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-4H-benzo[h]chromen-2-ylamine (52)

4-(3-Bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-3-(5-chloromethyl-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-4H-benzo[h]chromen-2-ylamine (24) (528 mg, 1 mmol) and triethylamine (140 μl, 1 mmol) and 2M methanolic solution of methylamine (600 μl, 1.2 mmol) is taken in acetonitril (10 ml) and stirred at room temperature under LC-MS control till the reaction is complete. The reaction mixture is diluted with water to about 50 ml and stirred for 2 h at room temperature. Thus resulting precipitates are separated by filtration, washed well with water and is dried under high vacuum to get solids of the title compound.

Example 53 3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-9-methylamino-1H-4-oxa-10-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (53)

3-Amino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-9-chloro-1H-4-oxa-10-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (34) (47 mg, 0.1 mmol) and triethylamine (14 μl, 0.1 mmol) and methylamine (2M in MeOH, 75 μl, 0.15 mmol) were taken in dry NMP (2 ml) and stirred at 80° C. till the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was diluted with water to about 7 ml, stirred at room temperature for 2 h, precipitates were collected by filtration, washed with water. The residue was then purified on HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) (21 mm×250 mm, RP18, 5 mm) with a methanol/water gradient (5% MeOH to MeOH in 25 min, flow 21 ml/min) to pure title compound (36 mg, 77%).

Example 54 Examination of Wnt Signaling Pathway Inhibiting Activity of Selected Compounds

To screen for small-molecule modulators of the Wnt signaling pathway, a reporter gene based assay describing the modulation of the TCF4 transcription factor was used. More specifically 4000 Hek293T cells were seeded into 384 high density plates. 24 h after seeding a Wnt-sensitive reporter (6×TCF-luciferase (Firefly) (pTOP-FLASH; “Armadillo coactivates transcription driven by the product of the Drosophila segment polarity gene dTCF”, Cell, 1997, 88(6), pages 789-99)) and constitutively expressed control reporter (Renilla luciferase pCMV-RL) were transfected into Hek293T. Wnt signaling was stimulated by cotransfecting mouse Wnt1, mouse Frizzled 8 and human LRP6 according to “Casein kinase 1 gamma couples Wnt receptor activation to cytoplasmic signal transduction”, Nature, 2005, 438(7069), pages 867-872. 24 h after pathway stimulation compounds were added at a concentration of 10 microM and allowed to incubate for 24 h. For the evaluation of the IC₅₀ the respective compound was applied in increasing concentrations yielding final concentrations per well of 5 nM-100 microM.

The IC₅₀-values of the Wnt pathway inhibitory activity of compounds (1), (4), (6), (7), (16) to (20), (28) to (31) and (38) to (42) are shown in table 1.

TABLE 1 IC₅₀-values of the Wnt pathway inhibitory activity for of compounds (1), (4), (6), (7), (16) to (20), (28) to (31) and (38) to (42) Wnt1/Frzd8 Compound IC₅₀ [nM]  (1) 46  (4) 86  (6) 855  (7) 316 (16) 1126 (17) 20 (18) 33 (19) 3 (20) 6 (28) 2396 (29) 6482 (30) 697 (31) 1965 (38) 3118 (39) 1365 (40) 3424 (41) 45 (42) 55

Example 55 Examination of Toxicity in Hek293T and HepG2

For examination of cytotoxicity in these cancer cell lines the commercial available CellTiterGlo® Reagent (Promega, USA) was used according to the manufactor. Compounds were applied to Hek293T (denoted (a)) or HepG2 (denoted (b)), cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium, supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and 1% penicillin/streptomycin. Cells were grown in T75 flasks at 37° C., 5% CO2 and trypsinized when 60-80% confluent by adding 2 ml of 0.25% Trypsin-EDTA solution. Cells were then re-suspended into culture medium yielding approx. 4000 cells (a) or 4500 cells (b), suspended in 30 microl medium. 48 h after cell seeding, compounds were added to yield the desired final concentrations. 24 h after compound addition cytotoxicity was evaluated. For this purpose the media was removed and CellTiterGlo® was added according to the manufactors manual. In this assay the luciferase emission readout is directly correlated with the cellular amount of ATP, low luciferase emission thus is reflecting cytotoxicity of a compound. For the evaluation of the IC₅₀ the compound was applied in increasing concentrations yielding final concentrations per well of 5 nM-100 microM.

IC₅₀-values of the cytotoxic activity of compounds (1), (4), (6), (7), (16) to (20), (29) to (32) and (39) to (43) against Hek293T and HepG2 are shown in table 2.

TABLE 2 IC₅₀-values against Hek293T and HepG2 of compounds (1), (4), (6), (7), (16) to (20), (28) to (31) and (38) to (42) Hek293T HepG2 Compound IC₅₀ [nM] IC₅₀ [nM]  (1) >90000 >90000  (4) >90000 >90000  (6) >90000 >90000  (7) >90000 >90000 (16) >90000 >90000 (17) >90000 >90000 (18) >90000 >90000 (19) >90000 >90000 (20) >90000 37048 (28) >90000 31676 (29) >90000 42539 (30) >90000 >90000 (31) >90000 >90000 (38) >90000 >90000 (39) >90000 >90000 (40) >90000 >90000 (41) >90000 >90000 (42) >90000 >90000

Example 56 Examination of Cell Line Specific Cytotoxicity

For examination of cell line-specific cytotoxicity, compounds were applied to human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, denoted (1); SW480, denoted (2); Dld-1, denoted (3)) and human fibroblasts (HS-68, denoted (4)), cultured in Mc Coy's ((1)) and Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium ((2)-(4)), supplemented with 10% ((1)-(3)) and 20% ((4)) fetal calf serum and 1% penicillin/streptomycin. Cells were grown in T75 flasks at 37° C., 5% CO2 and trypsinized when 60-80% confluent by adding 2 ml of 0.25% Trypsin-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) solution. Cells were then re-suspended into culture medium yielding approx. 750 cells, suspended in 45 microl medium, were plated into each well of a black 384-well plate for fluorescence imaging experiments. 24-36 hr later 5 microl compound solution (100 microM compound dissolved in ultra pure water containing 1% DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide)), were added to achieve a final concentration of 10 microM and were incubated for at least 72 hr. Compound incubation was terminated by (a) fixation and (b) permeabilisation of cells, followed by (c) fluorescence labeling of cell nuclei for cytometric quantification or by immunocytochemistry for microscopic evaluation of cell morphology. The three steps were performed by replacing the solution of the previous step in each well of a 384-well plate by (a) 30 microl PBS (phosphate buffered saline) containing 5% PFA (paraformaldehyde), (b) 30 microl PBS containing 0.2% TritonX-100 and (c) 10 microl PBS containing Hoechst-33342 for cytometry or Hoechst-33342, FITC-(fluorescein isothiocyanate-) labeled alpha-tubulin antibodies and TRITC-(tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate-)labeled phalloidin for microscopy. Solutions were incubated for 15 (a,b) and 30 min (c) in the dark at room temperature. Cells were washed twice between each step with 30 microl PBS. The assay system was miniaturized and adapted to automated workflow using liquid-handling robotics.

Cell line-specific cytotoxicity was quantified by counting the number of Hoechst labeled nuclei per well of a 384-well plate using a plate cytometer. Data obtained with the cytometer was analysed using standard data analysis software.

Identified hits were further evaluated by visual inspection of fluorescence micrographs obtained from imaging using a conventional fluorescence microscope.

The results for normal cells (HS68) are shown in table 3.

TABLE 3 Influence of of compounds ((1), (4), (6), (7), (16) to (20), (28) to (31) and (38) to (42) on normal cells (HS68) HS68 Compound IC₅₀ [nM]  (1) 87  (4) 215  (6) >90000  (7) >90000 (16) 4945 (17) >90000 (18) 2771 (19) nd (20) nd (28) >90000 (29) >90000 (30) 5150 (31) >90000 (38) 4164 (39) >90000 (40) >90000 (41) 641 (42) 469 nd: not determinable

The examination of the antiproliferative activity against human colon carcinoma cells Dld1, HCT116 and SW480 was carried out in analogy to the procedure carried out for HS68. The respective compound applied in increasing concentrations yielding final concentrations per well of 5 nM-90 microM. Compounds of the present invention have potent antiproliferative activity against human colon carcinoma cells as shown for Dld1, HCT116 and SW480 in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Influence of compounds (1), (4), (6), (7), (16) to (20), (28) to (31) and (38) to (42) on Dld1, HCT116 and SW480 colon carcinoma cells Dld1 HCT116 SW480 Compound IC₅₀ [nM] IC₅₀ [nM] IC₅₀ [nM]  (1)   38   49   56(a)  (4)   171   146  332  (6)  3819  8604  5956(a)  (7)   474(a)   922  2861 (16)  2901  3340  3158 (17)   643   305(a)  577(a) (18)   185   331 19671 (19)   21   17 nd (20)   14   15 nd (28)  21954  30314 53605 (29) >90000 >90000 38541 (30)  8975  2903  7598 (31)  4557  10004 11999 (38)   719  1054  3087 (39)  1085   666  2692 (40)  15658 >90000  6385 (41)   470   551  618 (42)   293   250  343 nd: not determinable

Examples 57 to 70

TABLE 5 compounds (57) to (70): Compound R² R⁹ (57) Br CH₂OH (58) Br CH₂NH₂ (59) Cl OH (60) Cl NH₂ (61) Cl CH₂OH (62) Cl CH₂NH₂ (63) F OH (64) F NH₂ (65) F CH₂OH (66) F CH₂NH₂ (67) OCH₃ OH (68) OCH3 NH₂ (69) OCH3 CH₂OH (70) OCH3 CH₂NH₂

Compounds (57), (58), (60) to (62), (64) to (66) and (68) to (70) were prepared in analogy to the procedure of examples 19 and 20 using the respective 2,8-quinoline derivatives and the respective 3-R²-4,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehydes.

Compounds (59), (63) and (67) were prepared by suspending (3-R²-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-(2,8-dihydroxy-quinolin-7-yl)-methanone (1 mmol) in 25 ml methanol at room temperature under argon and then charging with malononitrile (4 mmol) and piperidine (1 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h. Acetic acid (1 ml), water (10 ml) and then sodium cyanoborohydride (4 mmol) were added and stirred further at room temperature until the reaction was complete. Diluted with water to 100 ml, stirred for 1 h, solids were collected by filtration, washed well with water, 50% aq ethanol and then with 25% ethylacetate in cyclohexane.

The Wnt pathway inhibitory activity of compounds (57) to (70) was investigated according to the procedure described in example 54. The IC₅₀-values of the Wnt pathway inhibitory activity of compounds (57) to (70) were below 100 nM.

The cytotoxic activity of compounds (57) to (70) was investigated according to the procedure described in example 55. The IC₅₀-values against Hek293T of compounds (57) to (70) lied above 50 microM.

The influence of compounds (57) to (70) on colon cancer cell lines Dld1 and HCT116 was determined according to the procedure described in example 56. IC₅₀-values for the cytotoxicity against these cell lines were below 100 nM for compounds (57) to (70) showing a strong effect on cancer cells being associated with an aberrant Wnt signalling pathway activity.

Example 71 Enantionmeric separation of 3,6-diamino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (20) and determination of the activity of the enantionmers

Chiral HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) and SFC (Supercritical Fluid Chromatography) were used for the analytical and preparative chiral separation of compound (20) respectively.

1.1. Preparative Separation Method

The racemic mixture (300 mg) of 3,6-Diamino-1-(3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1H-4-oxa-5-aza-phenanthrene-2-carbonitrile (compound (20)) was separated into its enantiomers with the following methods:

Instrument: Thar 80 preparative Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) Column: Chiralcel m□ AS 250 mm×25 mm, 5 Mobile phase: 70% Carbondioxide and 30% ethanol with 0.05% 2-aminopropane Flow rate: 60 g/min

Temperature: 40° C.

Sample preparation: The racemate was dissolved in a 1:1 mixture of ethanol and acetonitrile with a final concentration of 10 mg/ml. Injection volume: 2 ml per injection.

1.2. Work Up

After separation, the fractions were dried off via rotary evaporator at bath temperature 30° C. to get the two enantiomers. After separation, 89.2 mg of (−)-Isomer with e.e. value 100% and 105.6 mg of (+)-Isomer with e.e. value 100% were obtained respectively.

2. Analytical Method

Instrument: Shimadzu LC-20AB analytical HPLC Column: Chiralcel m□ AS-H, 250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 Mobile phase: 80% n-hexane and 20% ethanol with 0.05% 2-propylamine Flow rate: 1.0 ml/min

Detection: 220 nm

Properties of the pure enantiomers are displayed in Table 6. The e.e values were determined by chiral HPLC.

TABLE 6 Properties of the enantiomeres (20)-1 and (20)-2 of compound (20) Retention Analytical e.e. NO. Time [α]_(D) at 24° C. Salt Purity methods value Net_weight (20)-1 3.28 min −238.53° +/− 0.12° FREE 99.5% NMR, LCMS, 100.0%  89.2 mg HPLC (20)-2 5.42 min +235.14° +/− 0.24° FREE 99.6% NMR, LCMS, 100.0% 105.6 mg HPLC

The Wnt pathway inhibitory activity was determined as described in example 54. The influence of the racemate and the two separated enantiomeres on colon cancer cell lines Dld1 and HCT116 was determined according to the procedure described in example 56. The results are shown in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Comparison of the biological activities of the racemate with the pure enantiomers of compound (20) IC₅₀ Racemate IC₅₀ (−)-Isomer IC₅₀ (+)-Isomer Activity (20) (20)-1 (20)-2 against Wnt-Pathway 5 nM <5 nM 330 nM against colon cancer 5 nM <5 nM 354 nM cell lines HCT 116 against colon cancer 10 nM  <5 nM 356 nM cell lines DLDl 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. Method for the treatment of a disorder or disease associated with an aberrant activation of Wnt signalling in a mammal selected from a cell proliferative disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, increased bone density, aging or age-related disorders and/or diseases or Dupuytren disease (superficial fibromatosis) using a compound of formula (I)

and/or solvates; hydrates; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ independently from each other are N or CR⁸ wherein R⁸ may be same or different, and wherein up to 3 of the group X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ may be N; A is selected from the group consisting of 5- to 6-membered aromatic or heteroaromtic cycles containing 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S wherein A is optionally substituted by 1 to 5 substituents R which may be same or different; R is selected from OH; halogen; CN; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; C(O)R^(1a); C(O)OR^(1a); C(O)N(R^(1a)R^(1b)); C(NR^(1a)R^(1b))NOR^(1c); C(NR^(1a)R^(1b))NOC(O)R^(1c); S(O)₂N(R^(1a))C(O)N(R^(1b)R^(1c)); N(R^(1a))S(O)₂OR^(1b); C(R^(1a))N(R^(1b)); C(R^(1a))NOR^(1b); C(R^(1a))NN(R^(1b)R^(1c)); C(O)N(R^(la))OR^(1b); C(NR^(1a))N(R^(1b)R^(1c)); C(NR^(1a))N(R^(1b))OR^(1c); C(NR^(1a))N(R^(1b))N(R^(1c)R^(1d)); N(R^(1a)R^(1b)); N(R^(1a))S(O)₂N(R^(1b)R^(1c)); N(R^(1a))C(O)R^(1b); N(R^(1a))S(O)₂R^(1b); N(R^(1a))S(O)R^(1b); N(R^(1a))C(O)N(R^(1b)R^(1c)); N(R^(1a))C(O)OR^(1b); SR^(1a); S(O)₂OR; S(O)₂N(R^(la)R^(1b)); S(O)N(R^(1a)R^(1b)); S(O)₂R^(1a); S(O)R^(1a); OR^(1a); OC(O)R^(1a); and OC(O)N(R^(1a)R^(1b)); and wherein alkyl; alkenyl, alkinyl, cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups R¹⁰ which are same or different; and optionally two adjacent substituents R form together a 5- to 7-membered aromatic, heteroaromatic, alicyclic or heterocyclic ring optionally substituted by one or more groups R¹⁰ which are same or different; R^(1a); R^(1b); R^(1c); and R^(1d) are independently from each other selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted with one or more R¹⁰ which are same or different; R¹⁰ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(10a); C(O)R^(10a); C(O)OR^(10a); C(O)N(R^(10a)R^(10b)); N(R^(10a)R^(10b)); OC(O)R^(10a); N(R^(10a))C(O)R^(10b); S(O)₂N(R^(10a)R^(10b)); S(O)N(R^(10a)R^(10b)); S(O)₂N(R^(10a))C(O)N(R^(10b)R^(10c)); S(O)₂R^(10a); S(O)R^(10a); S(O)₂OR^(10a); N(R^(10a))S(O)₂N(R^(10b)R^(10c)); SR^(10a); N(R^(10a))S(O)₂R^(10b); N(R^(10a))S(O)R^(10b); N(R^(10a))C(O)N(R^(10b)R^(10c)); N(R^(10a))C(O)OR^(10b); and OC(O)N(R^(10a)R^(10b)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; R^(10a); R^(10b) and R^(10c) are independently from each other selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; R⁶ is selected from H; OH; CN; halogen; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; C(O)R^(6a); C(O)OR^(6a); C(O)N(R^(6a)R^(6b)); C(O)N(R^(6a))OR^(6b); C(O)N(R^(6a))N(R^(6b)R^(6c)); C(NR^(6a))N(R^(6b)R^(6c)); C(NR^(6a))N(R^(6b))OR^(6c); C(NR^(6a))N(R^(6b))N(R^(6c)R^(6d)); C(R^(6a))N(R^(6b)); C(NR^(6a)R^(6b))NOR^(6c); C(NR^(6a)R^(6b))NOC(O)R^(6c); C(R^(6a))NN(R^(6b)R^(6c)); CR^(6a)NOR^(6b); OR^(6a); OC(O)R^(6a); OC(O)N(R^(6a)R^(6b)); SR^(6a); S(O)R^(6a); S(O)₂R^(6a); S(O)₂OR^(6a); S(O)₂N(R^(6a)R^(6b)); S(O)N(R^(6a)R^(6b)); S(O)₂N(R^(6a))C(O)N(R^(6b)R^(6c)); N(R^(6a))S(O)₂N(R^(6b)R^(6c)); N(R^(6a))S(O)₂R^(6b); N(R^(6a))S(O)R^(6b); N(R^(6a))S(O)₂OR^(6b); N(R^(6a)R^(6b)); N(R^(6a))C(O)R^(6b); N(R^(6a))C(O)N(R^(6b)R^(6c)); and N(R^(6a))C(O)OR^(6b); wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more R¹¹, which are same or different; R^(6a); R^(6b); R^(6c); and R^(6d) are independently from each other selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl which are optionally substituted with one or more R¹¹, which are the same or different; R¹¹ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(11a); C(O)R^(11a); C(O)OR^(11a); C(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); OC(O)R^(11a); N(R^(11a))C(O)R^(11b); SR^(11a); S(O)R^(11a); S(O)₂R^(11a); S(O)₂OR^(11a); S(O)₂N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); S(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); S(O)₂N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); N(R^(11a))S(O)₂N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); N(R^(11a))S(O)₂R^(11b); N(R^(11a))S(O)R¹¹b; N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); N(R^(11a))C(O)OR^(11b); and OC(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more R¹⁸ which are same or different; (a) R¹⁸ is selected from halogen, CN, OH; OR^(11a); C(O)R^(11a); C(O)OR^(11a); C(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); OC(O)R^(11a); N(R^(11a))C(O)R^(11b); SR^(11a); S(O)R^(11a); S(O)₂R^(11a); S(O)₂OR^(11a); S(O)₂N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); S(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); S(O)₂N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(1b)R^(11c)); N(R^(11a))S(O)₂N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); N(R^(11a))S(O)₂R^(11b); N(R^(11a))S(O)R^(11b); N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); N(R^(11a))C(O)OR^(11b); and OC(O)N(R^(11a)R^(11b)); R^(11a); R^(11b) and R^(11c) are independently from each other selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are the same or different; R⁷ is selected from H; OH; CN; halogen; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; C(O)R^(7a); C(O)OR^(7a); C(O)N(R^(7a))OR^(7b); C(NR^(7a))N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); C(NR^(7a))N(R^(7b))OR^(7c); C(O)N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); C(O)N(R^(7a))N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); C(NR^(7a))N(R^(7b))N(R^(7c)R^(7d)); C(R^(7a))N(R^(7b)); C(R^(7a))NN(R^(7b)R^(7c)); C(R^(7a))NOR^(7b); OR^(7a); OC(O)R^(7a); OC(O)N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); N(R^(7a))C(O)R^(7b); N(R^(7a))C(O)N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); N(R^(7a))C(O)OR^(7b); N(R^(7a))S(O)₂OR^(7b); N(R^(7a))S(O)R^(7b); N(R^(7a))S(O)₂R^(7b); N(R^(7a))S(O)₂N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); SR^(7a); S(O)R^(7a); S(O)₂R^(7a); S(O)₂OR^(7a); S(O)N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); S(O)₂N(R^(7a)R^(7b)); S(O)₂N(R^(7a))C(O)N(R^(7b)R^(7c)); C(NR^(7a)R^(7b))NOR^(7c); and C(NR^(7a)R^(7b))NOC(O)R^(7c); wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more R¹², which are same or different; R^(7a); R^(7b); R^(7c), and R^(7d) are independently from each other selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted with one or more R¹², which are same or different; R¹² is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(12a); C(O)R^(12a); C(O)OR^(12a); C(O)N(R^(12a)R^(12b)); N(R^(12a)R^(12b)); OC(O)R^(12a); N(R^(12a))C(O)R^(12b); S(O)₂N(R^(12a)R^(12b)); S(O)N(R^(12a)R^(12b)); S(O)₂R^(12a); S(O)R^(12a); S(O)₂OR^(12a); N(R^(12a))S(O)₂N(R^(12b)R^(12c)); SR^(12a); N(R^(12a))S(O)₂R^(12b); N(R^(12a))S(O)R^(12b); N(R^(12a))C(O)N(R^(12b)R^(12c)); N(R^(12a))C(O)OR^(12b); OC(O)N(R^(12a)R^(12b)); and S(O)₂N(R^(11a))C(O)N(R^(11b)R^(11c)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; R^(12a); R^(12b) and R^(12c) are independently from each other selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; R⁸ is selected from H; OH; CN, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; C(O)R^(8a); C(O)OR^(8a); C(O)N(R^(8a)R^(8b)); C(O)N(R^(8a))OR^(8b); C(O)N(R^(8a))N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); C(NR^(8a))N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); C(NR^(8a))N(R^(8b))OR^(8c); C(NR^(8a))N(R^(8b))N(R⁸CR^(8d)); C(R^(8a))N(R^(8b)); C(R^(8a))NN(R^(8b)R^(8c)); C(R^(8a))NOR^(8b); OR^(8a); OC(O)R^(8a); OC(O)N(R^(8a)R^(8b)); SR^(8a); S(O)R^(8a); S(O)₂R^(8a); S(O)₂OR^(8a); S(O)₂N(R^(8a)R^(8b)); S(O)N(R^(8a)R^(8b)); S(O)₂N(R^(8a))C(O)N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); N(R^(8a))S(O)₂N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); N(R^(8a))S(O)₂R^(8b); N(R^(8a))S(O)R^(8b); N(R^(8a))S(O)₂OR^(8b); N(R^(8a)R^(8b)); N(R^(8a))C(O)R^(8b); N(R^(8a))C(O)N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); N(R^(8a))C(O)OR^(8b); C(NR^(8a)R^(8b))NOR^(8c); C(NR^(8a)R^(8b))NOC(O)R^(8c); C(O)NR^(8a)N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); and N(R^(8a))C(S)N(R^(8b)R^(8c)); wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more R¹⁶, which are same or different; and optionally two adjacent R⁸ form together a substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6 membered saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon ring containing up to 3 N-atoms in the ring or a substituted or unsubstituted 5- to 7-membered cyclic monoether or diether; R^(8a); R^(8b); R^(8c); and R^(8d) are independently from each other selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl which are optionally substituted with one or more R¹⁶, which are same or different; R¹⁶ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(16a); C(O)R^(16a); C(O)OR^(16a); C(O)N(R^(16a)R^(16b)); N(R^(16a)R^(16b)); OC(O)R^(16a); N(R^(16a))C(O)R^(16b); S(O)₂N(R^(16a)R^(16b)); S(O)N(R^(16a)R^(16b)); S(O)₂R^(16a); S(O)R^(16a); S(O)₂OR^(16a); N(R^(16a))S(O)₂N(R^(16b)R^(16c)); SR^(16a); N(R^(16a))S(O)₂R^(16b); N(R^(16a))S(O)R^(16b); N(R^(16a))C(O)N(R^(16b)R^(16c)); N(R^(16a))C(O)OR^(16b); OC(O)N(R^(16a)R¹⁶); and S(O)₂N(R^(16a))C(O)N(R^(16b)R^(16c)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; R^(16a); R^(16b) and R^(16c) are independently from each other selected from H; and C₁₋₆ alkyl; wherein C₁₋₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are the same or different.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the compound is of formula

wherein Y¹, Y², Y³ and Y⁴ independently from each other are N or CR⁹ wherein R⁹ may be same or different, and wherein up to 3 of the group Y¹, Y², Y³ and Y⁴ may be N; R⁹ is selected from H; OH; halogen; CN; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; OR^(9a); C(O)R^(9a); C(O)OR^(9a); C(O)N(R^(9a)R^(9b)); C(O)N(R^(9a))OR^(9b); C(O)N(R^(9a))N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); C(R^(9a))NN(R^(9b)R^(9c)); C(R^(9a))NOR^(9b); S(O)₂N(R^(9a)R^(9b)); S(O)N(R^(9a)R^(9b)); S(O)₂R^(9a); S(O)R^(9a); S(O)₂OR^(9a); S(O)₂N(R^(9a))C(O)N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); N(R^(9a))S(O)₂N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); SR^(9a); OC(O)R^(9a); N(R^(9a))C(O)R^(9b); N(R^(9a))S(O)₂R^(9b); N(R^(9a))S(O)R^(9b); N(R^(9a))C(O)N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); N(R^(9a))C(S)N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); N(R^(9a))C(O)OR^(9b); OC(O)N(R^(9a)R^(9b)); C(NR⁹⁶)N(R^(9b))OR^(9c); C(NR^(9a))N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); C(NR^(9a))N(R^(9b))N(R^(9c)R^(9d)); N(R^(9a))S(O)₂OR^(9b); N(R^(9a)R^(9b)); C(R^(9a))NR^(9b); C(NR^(9a)R^(9b))NOR^(9c); C(NR^(9a)R^(9b))NOC(O)R^(9c); and C(O)NR^(9a)N(R^(9b)R^(9c)); wherein alkyl; cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; alkenyl; alkinyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more R¹³, which are same or different; R^(9a); R^(9b); and R^(9c) are independently from each other selected from H; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; and C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl which are optionally substituted with one or more R¹³, which are same or different; R¹³ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(13a); C(O)R^(13a); C(O)OR^(13a); C(O)N(R^(13a)R^(13b)); (R^(13a)R^(13b)); OC(O)R^(13a); N(R^(13a))C(O)R^(13b); S(O)₂N(R^(13a)R^(13b)); S(O)N(R^(13a)R^(13b)); S(O)₂R^(13a); S(O)₂OR^(13a); S(O)R^(13a)); N(R^(13a))S(O)₂N(R^(13b)R^(13c)); SR^(13a); N(R^(13a))S(O)₂R^(13b); N(R^(13a))S(O)R^(13b); N(R^(13a))C(O)N(R^(13b)R^(13c)); N(R^(13a))C(O)OR^(13b); and OC(O)N(R^(13a)R^(13b)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; R^(13a); R^(13b) and R^(13c) are independently from each other selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are same or different; and/or solvates; hydrates; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the compound is of formulae

wherein R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are independently from each other selected from H; halogen; CN; C₁-C₆ alkyl; C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl; C₃-C₇ heterocyclyl; C₂-C₆ alkenyl; C₂-C₆ alkinyl; C₃-C₇ aryl; C₃-C₇ heteroaryl; C₄-C₁₅ aralkyl; C₄-C₁₅ heteroarylalkyl; C(O)R^(14a); C(O)OR^(14a); C(O)N(R^(14a)R^(14b)); C(R^(14a))NR^(14b); and C(R^(14a))NN(R^(14b)R^(14c)); wherein alkyl; alkenyl, alkinyl, cycloalkyl; heterocyclyl; aryl; heteroaryl; aralkyl; and heteroarylalkyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups R¹⁷ which are same or different; R¹⁷ is selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₆ alkyl; OR^(17a); C(O)R^(17a); C(O)OR^(17a); C(O)N(R^(17a)R^(17b)); N(R^(17a)R^(17b)); OC(O)R^(17a); N(R^(17a))C(O)R^(17b); S(O)₂N(R^(17a)R^(17b)); S(O)N(R^(17a)R^(17b)); S(O)₂R^(17a); S(O)R^(17a); N(R^(17a))S(O)₂N(R^(17b)R^(17c)); SR^(17a); N(R^(17a))S(O)₂R^(17b); S(O)₂OR^(17a); N(R^(17a))S(O)R^(17b); N(R^(17a))C(O)N(R^(17b)R^(17c)); N(R^(17a))C(O)OR^(17b); and OC(O)N(R^(17a)R^(17b)); wherein C₁-C₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are the same or different; R^(17a); R^(17b) and R^(17c) are independently from each other selected from H; and C₁-C₆ alkyl; wherein C₁₋₆ alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen which are the same or different; and/or solvates; hydrates; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 19. The method according to claim 16 wherein A is phenyl substituted by 1 to 5 R which may be same or different and/or solvates; hydrates; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
 20. The method according to claim 16 wherein the cell proliferation disorder is cancer or a proliferative skin disorder.
 21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the cancer is selected from cancers showing an increased level of beta-catenin or beta-catenin target genes in comparison to a normal tissue.
 22. The method according to claim 20 wherein the cancer is member of the group multiple myeloma, colon cancer, breast cancer, gastritic cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer, kidney cancer, leukaemia, gliomas, basal cell carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, mesothelioma, osteosarcoma, medulloblastomas and other primary CNS malignant neuroectodermal tumors.
 23. A method for modulating the Wnt signalling pathway by using a compound as defined in claim
 16. 24. A pharmaceutical composition containing the compound of claim
 16. 25. Method of using the compound as defined in claim 16 in a kit.
 26. Method for the preparation of a medicament comprising the steps of: a) preparing at least one compound according to claim 16; and b) formulating a medicament containing at least said compound.
 27. Method of treating a mammal for the modulation of the Wnt signalling pathway, which method comprises administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim
 16. 28. A method for predicting whether therapy of a cancer patient with a compound according to claim 16 will be successful comprising the steps of a) determining the amount of beta-catenin or beta-catenin target genes in a sample of the cancer patient; and b) comparing the amount determined in step a) to a reference amount; whereby it is predicted whether therapy of the cancer patient with a compound according to claim 16 will be successful.
 29. The method according to claim 28 wherein the cancer is member of the group multiple myeloma, colon cancer, breast cancer, gastritic cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer, kidney cancer, leukaemia, gliomas, basal cell carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, mesothelioma, osteosarcoma, medulloblastomas and other primary CNS malignant neuroectodermal tumors.
 30. The method according to claim 28 wherein the sample comprises cancer cells and the amount of beta-catenin or beta-catenin target genes in the nucleus of said cancer cells is determined. 